Intersecting Disciplines: Should LIS Competencies Include Social Work?

Abstract

Social work in librarianship is a phenomenon that has gained momentum in public libraries since the first known social worker began working at the San Francisco Public Library in 2009. Few LIS programs offer courses to address this evolving phenomenon, yet librarians and library staff nationwide have expressed the need to have training in social work to help them meet the needs of their users. To date, there are only three universities (Dominican University, University of Michigan and Middle Tennessee State University) that offer dual degree programs and even fewer universities that offer social work librarianship courses. With the concern of librarians not feeling equipped to address the social needs of library users (eg. depression, anxiety, suicide, health issues, substance abuse, poverty) this paper emphasizes the critical need for LIS programs to adapt their curriculum to adequately prepare future librarians for public librarianship.

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