Congratulations go to senior librarian Kavan Stafford who recently had his first book published at a launch event held at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library.
‘Public Libraries and Homelessness: A Practical Guide’ is a much needed, agenda-setting book which examines the topic of public libraries and homelessness and explores how public libraries can remain welcoming towards homeless users while also dealing with staff concerns.
Kavan, who is a member of the evidence team at University Hospital Hairmyres, explains the inspiration behind writing the book.
“I spent many years working in public libraries which, as one of the last public spaces which can be freely occupied without expectation of spending money or explaining one’s presence, are often places to which homeless individuals gravitate.
“When libraries reopened to the public after the initial Covid-19 lockdown, many homeless individuals were newly excluded from services due to social distancing and limited entry which really brought home the importance of public libraries to these users. This led to my postgraduate research in librarianship which involved a survey of staff at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library which I then presented at the annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Scotland)”.
Kavan continues: “Soon after, I was approached by an academic publisher with a proposal to expand my survey to the whole of the UK and couple the results with lengthy discussions of the needs of homeless library users and how libraries can best serve these often vulnerable and underserved individuals. The result was my book – Public Libraries and Homelessness: A Practical Guide”.
Kavan’s book is now available in local libraries in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire and also in university libraries throughout the country.
To support the launch of his book, Kavan has also written a short companion essay which can be read at: https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/page/article-detail/public-libraries-and-homelessness-why-now/
