Library Social Work

Welcome to the Library Social Work podcast. I’m Sarah Johnson, a librarian and social worker, here to explore the fascinating intersection of public libraries and social services. While this combination might seem unusual to some, a growing network of individuals and libraries are discovering the significance of these partnerships. In each episode, I’ll be joined by a diverse group of experts—social workers, librarians, social work students, educators, researchers, and administrators—who are actively involved in these cross-disciplinary collaborations. But don’t let the title of this podcast fool you: I’ll explore connections beyond social work that include public health experts, mental health advocates, and peer navigators. With years of experience researching and teaching about Library Social Work, my goal is to illuminate the factors that contribute to the success of these partnerships and identify areas for improvement. With over 300 collaborations emer

Library Social Work is a society podcast hosted by Sarah Johnson, LMSW, MLIS, with 19 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sarah Johnson, LMSW, MLIS hosts Library Social Work, a society show with 19 episodes published.

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  Episode #18

  Dr. Kaitlin Montague

  Jun 24, 202540 minS1

  <p>While this episode isn’t solely focused on library social work, there’s definitely some overlap. The vehicle residents Dr. Montague studies face many of the same access challenges that library workers encounter with patrons. And although living in a vehicle isn’t identical to being unhoused, the two experiences are connected—especially as more people turn to their cars for shelter in the face of rising housing costs and stagnant wages.</p><p>In addition to discussing what Kaitlin has learned from doing fieldwork at information-sharing events for mobile communities, we discuss what libraries can do to support vehicle...

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  Episode #17

  Dr. Peggy Morton

  Jun 5, 202548 minS1

  <p>In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Peggy Morton, LCSW, to explore the expansion of NYU’s Silver School of Social Work field placements in branches of the New York Public Library. We discuss the alignment between the core values of social work and librarianship, along with the unique ethical challenges students encounter in public library environments. Dr. Morton highlights the practical skills students develop through these placements, the potential impact of stipends in formalizing library social work as a field of practice, and the ways social work programs can educate students about the essential contributions libraries make to i...

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  Episode #16

  Dr. Mary A. Provence

  Apr 2, 202538 minS1

  <p>Dr. Mary A. Provence, an assistant professor of social work at Ball State University, brings 32 years of experience across micro and macro practice. She began her career as a street outreach worker for youth experiencing homelessness and has since focused her research on library social work, particularly its connection to homelessness. In this episode, we explore her findings on how employing social workers in public libraries helps reduce reliance on law enforcement.</p><p>Substack<br/>@librarysocialwork<br/><br/></p>

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  Episode #15

  Dr. Margaret Ann Paauw, LCSW

  Mar 5, 202539 minS1

  <p>Dr. Margaret Ann Paauw is a leading voice in library social work, bringing a wealth of experience as an Assistant Professor at Eastern Michigan University, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and an author. With a background as a library social worker for the Chicago Public Library, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the field. She was an active member of the Public Library Association’s Library Social Work Taskforce, facilitated the library social work direct service call, and co-authored A Trauma-Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons.</p><p>In this discussion, we explore her research on the experiences of...

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  Episode #1

  Dr. Rachel D. Williams

  Feb 4, 202539 minS14

  <p>Dr. Rachel D. Williams is a former public librarian and current LIS educator at the University of South Carolina's School of Information Science. We explore USC’s new library social work certificate program, integrating social work components into LIS education, boundary management, and the necessary components to support library workers. </p><p>Substack<br/>@librarysocialwork<br/><br/></p>

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