SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

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The Social Responsibilities Round Table works to make ALA more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

Learn more about SRRT on the ALA website.

  • 1.  Social work role of librarians, especially in public libraries

    Posted Mar 14, 2022 08:04 PM
    I'm currently in library school (UW Milwaukee) and for one of my classes this week we're considering the idea of librarians (and library staff) as social workers, based in part on Lynn Westbrook's article, "I'm Not a Social Worker" (https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.uwm.edu/10.1086/679023). One of the questions we're addressing is whether ALA's social responsibility and diversity initiatives/groups should "accommodate cases such as this" -- I think the professor means whether SRRT and other ALA groups should have policies and guidelines for social work-like situations and, if so, what those should be.

    I have my own thoughts on the subject, but I am curious how you all feel on the topic (or if you know of any related thought-provoking articles or case studies).

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    Andréa Fernandes
    MLIS Student
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Social work role of librarians, especially in public libraries

    Posted Mar 16, 2022 02:40 PM

    Our county library system started a partnership with the social work school at Stony Brook University in NY, where libraries can sign up for a social worker intern. This has provided wonderful assistance to our patrons, support for library workers, and offers a unique internship to social work students to see how a modern library is far more than reference questions and readers' advisory work.

     

    Lisa

     

    Lisa G. Kropp

    Director

    Lindenhurst Memorial Library

    One Lee Avenue, Lindenhurst, NY

    www.lindenhurstlibrary.org

    631-957-7755 x 130

    973c0563-b530-4509-b26c-07e340935425Sustainable Libraries Certified

    www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org

     

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Social work role of librarians, especially in public libraries

    Posted Mar 16, 2022 02:48 PM
    I love hearing about programs like that! I think they're such a great idea. How has the community reacted to the program?

    ------------------------------
    Andréa Fernandes
    MLIS Student
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Social work role of librarians, especially in public libraries

    Posted Mar 16, 2022 02:56 PM

    It took us a few semesters of trial and error to find an intern who fully "got" the concept of what was expected. People aren't used to seeing a social worker in a library! This semester has been our most successful, with the appointments filled each week. Our intern averages about 20 appointments a month, and he is only here about 10-12 hours a week.

     

    Lisa

     

    Lisa G. Kropp

    Director

    Lindenhurst Memorial Library

    One Lee Avenue, Lindenhurst, NY

    www.lindenhurstlibrary.org

    631-957-7755 x 130

    973c0563-b530-4509-b26c-07e340935425Sustainable Libraries Certified

    www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org

     

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Social work role of librarians, especially in public libraries

    Posted Mar 22, 2022 01:14 AM
    That's fabulous!

    ------------------------------
    Andréa Fernandes
    MLIS Student
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------

    Original Message