00:00For many, libraries are sanctuaries. They're cool in summer, warm in winter,
00:07have free Wi-Fi, comfortable seats and plenty of entertainment.
00:11They're places vulnerable people feel welcome and comfortable.
00:16Recently we had a young 15-year-old girl who was spending many hours in the library every day.
00:23She wasn't at school and she didn't want to be at home
00:27because she was suffering from domestic and family violence.
00:31And she didn't want to leave when the library was closing.
00:35It sparked an idea.
00:37Library staff felt there was a need for more expertise to be available in libraries to help vulnerable people.
00:44The Success Library added a check-in desk, not for books but for people looking for help.
00:50It's staffed by two social work students with support from Communicare and Coburn Integrated Health.
00:56Anybody can access it. It is one of the few spaces left where you can go and feel comfortable
01:02and not feel obliged to purchase anything.
01:05They provide help in the form of a confidential chat and connect people with support services.
01:10A lot of these supports are set up in a very clinical setting and that can be quite daunting for people to go into
01:15whereas in the library setting everyone is accepted.
01:19It's a very culturally safe space for people to attend.
01:23It's free, it's warm, it's inviting.
01:25It could be housing insecurity, it could be financial difficulties, it could be relationship breakdowns.
01:32Social workers are common in US and UK libraries but it's been slow to catch on in Australia.
01:38The WA Local Government Association says the State Government needs to boost library funding by $30 million over four years
01:46to restore it to pre-2013 levels.
01:49It says the shift in community expectations and needs is placing pressure on public libraries
01:55and while services are changing the funding hasn't kept pace.
01:59It's definitely beneficial and something that we feel is needed and helps our community, our staff and the people involved.
02:09And I think that it could be a model for other local governments to also adopt.
Comments