Anyone who visits their local library knows that libraries are more than books. 

As an Albany native, I grew up going to the different branches of the Albany Public Library (APL). From doing research for elementary school book reports to getting audiobooks for long car rides, the library was my go-to spot as a child. 

I grew older but I never outgrew my love for the library. 

Not only do I find myself taking my young daughter to the library for story time, craft activities, and even fishing poles (yes, the library offers way more than books, but don’t worry, she checks-out the books too!), I can’t help but be pulled in to looking at all the new novels on the shelves and creating a list of things that I want to read (or listen to, as I still love audiobooks!). 

The APL has always been a community resource that is easily accessible in various neighborhoods and free. Libraries have been a place that people turn to for information to help them solve problems. But the challenges that some patrons are facing are beyond the scope of what most librarians are trained to handle. 

Enter the social worker. 

With March being National Social Work Month, and March 15 being World Social Work Day, it is the perfect time to discuss how libraries across the country have been adding social workers and case managers to their staff. 

Community members from all walks of life visit the library, and libraries have shifted to address the growing needs of patrons dealing with complex life issues… form unemployment to homelessness to mental health.

Social workers at the case management level are trained to engage, assess, and connect individuals to resources. They can help with issues such as education, emergency services (food, clothing, housing), employment, health improvement (including health insurance enrollment), and even offer support groups.

Some libraries, including the APL, have found temporary or grant related funding to hire social workers to serve the patrons who may need more assistance or resources. Services like these were especially needed during the pandemic.

Back in 2018, the APL created a community and services support specialist as a way to help all populations access library services. However, when the pandemic hit in 2020 the APL expanded their services to provide a safety net for people struggling with food insecurity, stable housing, mental health, and other issues that arose during this unprecedented and unpredictable time. They currently provide case management and advocacy services to the public, completely free of charge.

When this expansion originated, former APL executive director, Scott Jarzombek, said, “There are so many more people out there now who are experiencing a lack of food, struggling to apply for benefits, and suffering from stress and mental health problems. Our goal is to find organizations that tackle these issues and directly link people to them for assistance.”

Again, libraries offer so much more than books. 

Through positions like these, the library can provide assistance with…

  • Helping people find food providers and navigate the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP)
  • Applying for social service benefits, like Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Applying for unemployment, Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits
  • Accessing mental health services
  • Attaining housing and prevent eviction

Yes, all of that is available right at our Albany Public Library. 

Yes, the Albany Public Library branches are located in various parts of the City of Albany and along bus routes making services like these easily accessible to people in any part of the city. 

And yes, the library is one of the best resources in any community (maybe that’s a bit of an opinion, but I stand by it 100%!).

For more information, contact APL’s Community and Services Support Specialist, Annie Johnson, at (518) 427-4300 x 0223.