Creating a person-centered library : best practices for supporting high-needs patrons / Elizabeth A. Wahler and Sarah C. Johnson.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Understanding your library's unique needs -- Transforming library culture -- Person-centered programming and services for patrons' needs -- Addresssing the needs of specific patron populations -- Library collaborations for addressing patrons' needs -- Organizational approaches for best supporting staff -- Anticipating challenges to change -- Afterword -- Appendix A: Sample needs assessment: Patrons -- Appendix B: Sample needs assessment: Staff -- Appendix C: Sample needs assessment: Community -- Appendix D: Referral sheet template -- Appendix E: Sample behavior response guide.

"Public libraries are struggling to address growing numbers of high-need patrons experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, mental health problems, substance abuse, and poverty-related needs. Creating a Person-Centered Library will help librarians build or contribute to library services that will best address patrons' psychosocial needs. The authors, experienced in both library and social work, begin by providing an overview of patrons' psychosocial needs, structural and societal reasons for the shift in these needs, and how these changes impact libraries and library staff. Chapters focus on best practices for libraries providing person-centered services and share lessons learned, including information about special considerations for certain patron populations that might be served by individual libraries. The book concludes with information about how library organizations can support public library staff. Librarians and library students who are concerned about both patrons and library staff will find the practical advice in this book invaluable"--