loving art, science and creative kids

Silence 

Like to travel? Libraries are where you find a world filled with places to visit. They are also places for the homeless to find hope. You can visit a Pueblo and the Southwest or climb a mountain in Nepal.

When I was a child I read non-stop. As soon as my mother tucked me in for the night I’d go to my bedroom closet, put on the light and get transported to worlds that fired my imagination. Mom quickly discovered my hiding place by seeing light shining through the crack at the base of the door. This led me to start stuffing towels in the crack to block the light.

Reaching adulthood and independence from “it’s time to turn your light out and go to sleep dear, ” admonishments allowed me to stay reading throughout the night. It is not surprising that I later enrolled in a master’s degree program at Simmons Library Science school. The notion of a lifetime surrounded by books was a luxurious thought. I especially enjoyed the reference library courses where I could act like a detective and try to find obscure information. I only completed half the program, though, for Motherhood struck and  diapers had to be substituted for books.

My love for libraries never subsided, and I continued to pay attention to how they evolved to meet the needs of their patrons. While researching “Over the Peanut Fence,” I was drawn again into their web after seeing homeless bodies lounging on their front steps waiting for the building to open so they could get out of the cold. I spoke to Vailey Oehike, director of Multnomah County Libraries and David Ratliff their Neighborhood Libraries Director. And, I interviewed an amazing librarian—Ginnie Cooper, a past director who moved on to oversee library systems in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, D.C. What I learned was extraordinary. Quietly, with little commotion, libraries developed special ways of serving struggling populations. 

They initiated programs for the thousands of people who are illiterate in our communities. They increased their reading programs for children, many of whom slept in cars with their parents.  The following is from Ginnie’s interview in, “Over the Peanut Fence.” 

”Public libraries serve whomever walks into the library without regard to whether or not they live in a fixed residence.” She also reminded me that “this has always been the case. In the early 1900s, immigrants came to learn English and to peruse newspapers to look for employment.

“Since their inception, public libraries have helped the homeless, the poor, immigrants, and the mentally challenged, not just wealthy, educated patrons. Library members are different today than those who joined in the past. We now see a higher number of laid off, middle-age men and women who can’t find a job. Many are heads of households who, because of circumstances beyond their control, have lost their homes and have to sleep in their cars. They send their children to school without the benefit of a shower, clean clothes, a good night’s sleep or adequate food. 

“During the day, libraries are a service center for those who would otherwise spend hours wandering. When the weather turns cold over one-hundred people wait outside to come into the warm Central Library Building. Though many need library services, others come simply looking for a safe place to spend the day. Overnight shelters provide early morning breakfast but by 7 a.m., they usually release their guests to wander the streets. A few reopen for lunch and dinner, after which their dining areas again close with recipients asked to leave. Beds are rarely available before 7 p.m., making the hours feel long on cold and rainy days. A few shelters do have small day rooms, but they’re crowded with limited materials available to fight boredom. Users report that while drop-in centers make them feel homeless, they never feel that way in a public library. 

“Homeless parents arrive with their children seeking warmth, shelter, social contacts, story time, parent-education programs and help reaching social service agencies. Unfortunately, there is usually a wait, sometimes a year or more, before they can get shelter, for family centers have long lists of people hoping to gain access. Many shelters only accommodate one parent with their children, so the spouse is forced to go elsewhere. Partnered adults may use the library as a place to meet the following day. 

“Since so many use the library as a safe haven, staff is challenged to keep bathrooms clean and ensure that other members are not disturbed by body odors and noise. It’s not fun to have to ask an odiferous patron to leave until he or she showers. Homeless youth are primarily there to search for jobs, check their email, and get out of the rain.” 

Over the Peanut Fence discusses the many ways libraries assist special populations. The book shares the country’s appalling illiteracy rates and discusses community efforts to help poor readers and why many hire social workers.

Over the Peanut Fence, a book about scaling barriers for homeless and runaway youth, is available as an e-book and paperback in stores throughout the country. If you can't find it, ask your store to order a copy from Ingram. To find it on Amazon go to AMAZON.

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