Episode 17: Dr. Peggy Morton, LCSW
Public library practicum placements for social work students
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Peggy Morton, LCSW to explore the expansion of NYU’s Silver School of Social Work field placements in branches of the New York Public Library. We discuss the alignment between the core values of social work and librarianship, along with the unique ethical challenges students encounter in public library environments. Dr. Morton highlights the practical skills students develop through these placements, the potential impact of stipends in formalizing library social work as a field of practice, and the ways social work programs can educate students about the essential contributions libraries make to individuals and communities alike.
Below is a snippet of Dr. Morton’s response to my question of how can schools of social work educate students about the role libraries play in the lives of communities and individuals?
Topics
0:00 Intro
1:35 How Dr. Morton got involved in library social work
5:30 How NYU's program with NYPL expanded
9:14 Privacy and confidentiality
11:22 Needs social work (SW) students are addressing at libraries
20:06 Unique challenges of library social work internships
26:41 Educating social work students about public libraries
31:47 Stipends can help formalize library social work as a field of practice
34:52 Practicum placements are required for SW students
35:36 Shared values and ethics
38:37 Potential ethical dilemmas
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Links
2023 Congressional bill proposed to place social workers in libraries (Texas)
Aykanian, A., Morton, P., Trawver, K., Victorson, L., Preskitt, S., & Street, K. (2020). Library-based field placements: Meeting the diverse needs of patrons, including those experiencing homelessness. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(1), 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2020.1723757
Council on Social Work Education. (2022). 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/policies-process/2022epas/
Johnson, S.C., Giesler, M., & Paauw, M.A. (2023). “Spending a Year in the Library Will Prepare You for Anything”: Experiences of Social Work Interns at Public Library Field Placements. Advances in Social Work, 23(1), 166–184. https://doi.org/10.18060/26176
Morton, P., Johnson, S.C., Perez, D., Johnson, S., Raison, E., & Morton, V. (2019, April 5). An emerging alliance: Social work in the public library [Continuing education seminar]. New York University Silver School of Social Work, New York, NY.
New York University Silver School of Social Work.
Sharita Sims: Episode 11 with NYPL’s social worker who oversees the student placement program
For a list of additional resources, check out the Bibliography page