Episode 10: Christina Connolly
Worcester Public Library's Community Resources Manager discusses her team's decision to hire a social worker and the services she provides to both library staff and the wider community
Topics
0:00 Intro
0:57 Christina’s background and overview of the Worcester Public Library
What led to the decision to hire a social worker (“social services specialist”)
7:34 WPL’s Community Resources Department
11:39 Dowd’s “Pennies in the cup” and conflict prevention
13:27 Target audience and programming
17:45 Supports for library staff
19:45 Librarian In Charge (LIC) system
24:04 Orienting new social worker to branch libraries
25:41 Lessons learned: Library social work partnership
32:40 Additional programming
35:08 Worcester’s demographics
36:24 How to get in touch with Christina
37:19 New York Public Library, puzzles, nature
Links
WPL’s Outreach services
News about social workers at Massachusetts public libraries:
Keller, R. (2024, August 12). ‘A lot of people in need’: Social workers added to staffs at Mass. libraries. Boston 25 News. https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/lot-people-need-social-workers-added-staffs-local-libraries/LYSYIHIDZRDLLFVJWINJUHN75Q/
Turken, S. (2024, July 2). Massachusetts libraries are boosting their mission with new hires: Social workers. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-05-22/massachusetts-libraries-are-boosting-their-mission-with-new-hires-social-workers
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For additional resources, check out the Bibliography page