Perhaps building on the US IMPACT Public Library Study that came out late last month, Minnesota Public Radio ran a story today on the role of libraries and librarians play in the lives of many job seekers. It’s a theme that’s been popular lately – which is a good and a bad thing. It’s great to see libraries rise to the occasion; it’s unfortunate that there’s so much need. 

The library looks like a microcosm of so many communities in Minnesota in that access to technology is necessary, but not sufficient. People are coming to learn how to use technology, get advice and find peace or add structure to their days.

There’s a quote in the story that sort of gets at the root of role of the library…

“It’s like the new normal to have social work be part of being a librarian,” said Kim Poole, a librarian at Hennepin County’s Southdale Library in Edina. “Sometimes as a librarian you feel like you’re throwing out a life preserver to a person … they are often at the edge of an abyss.”