Public libraries in social work practice: Partnerships for social justice

Increased collaboration between the social work and librarianship professions focuses on their common goal of social justice. Current practices involve social work practitioners on staff in libraries, social work students undertaking placements in libraries, and a general recognition that librarians currently engage with activities closely aligning with aspects of professional social work. In Australia, early adopters include City of Melbourne Library addressing homelessness in the city, and Charles Sturt University’s Social Work in Libraries (SWiL) programme that uses student placements to make meaningful differences to marginalised populations in regional communities. The SWiL programme directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in relation to Goal 3 (good health and wellbeing), Goal 10 (reducing inequality), and Goal 17 (working in partnerships). This entry discusses facilitators and barriers to social work in libraries and makes recommendations for future opportunities in social work practice, social work pedagogy, interdisciplinary partnerships, and research.