Libraries as Safe Spaces for All

Libraries are meant to serve everyone in the community, including its unhoused population. While many people think of libraries as solely places for books, studying, or programs, libraries also provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals who may not have access to basic amenities such as bathrooms, wifi, and shelter from the outside elements. Because libraries are free and open to the public, they often become important places for people experiencing houselessness to rest, use computers, access information, and feel a sense of dignity.

Article V of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights states, “A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views” (American Library Association). Many unhoused individuals rely on the services libraries provide including internet access, phone charging stations, and connecting with social services. During the NPR broadcast of an episode titled “Dallas Library Embraces Role As Haven For The Homeless” on the program All Things Considered, the Dallas City Director of Libraries, Jo Giudice, tells the host about the library’s approach to its unhoused population. She says, “We started out about five years ago really engaging them as they came into the building. Simply smiling and making eye contact and getting to know them as human beings was our first step, and it made a huge difference” (All Things Considered 2017).

At the same time, having the library act as a social services center can create challenges for library staff and the rest of the community. In the article, “GIVE THEM SHELTER? Libraries face tough choices when homeless patrons set up permanent residence”, former director of Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, William O’Hearn says, “While we wanted [the property] to be a community gathering space…I can’t say that was positive when people would defecate and urinate on the facilities.” Not everyone respects the policies of the library, which sometimes ends up putting the library and the community it serves in a difficult position. They want to remain welcoming and accessible to everyone, but staff must also maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for other patrons and employees. This is why strong community support and library leadership is invaluable to libraries with a significant unhoused population. 

Libraries are much more than just buildings filled with books to serve specific people. They are public spaces that reflect the needs of the entire community, and that includes supporting people who are struggling or in need of help.

Works Cited

American Library Association. “Library Bill of Rights.” American Library Association, 29 Jan. 2019, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.

"Dallas Library Embraces Role As Haven For The Homeless." All Things Considered, 7 Feb. 2017. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A481117895/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=bab4831e. Accessed 14 May 2026.

Zulkey, Claire. “GIVE THEM SHELTER? Libraries Face Tough Choices When Homeless Patrons Set up Permanent Residence.” American Libraries, vol. 50, no. 6, June 2019, pp. 38–42. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=5ea264f6-ca03-3d04-a14d-6b54277b8675.