As a trustee, I wanted to understand what residents, staff, and longtime library supporters believed the institution needed. That included listening to people such as the Friends of the Library and thinking about how we could make the building more welcoming while also using public resources responsibly.

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One area I continued to emphasize was connecting residents directly with social services.

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Rather than creating an entirely new operation inside the library, we were able to build a partnership with Respond Now, a Southland nonprofit already experienced in helping people navigate food, housing, benefits, and other services.

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That partnership has become a regular service at the library. Respond Now has committed to provide services twice each month, and residents can now meet with a representative for assistance with programs including SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, Medicare savings programs, IDHS documentation and case management, as well as referrals to additional services.

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For me, that is a natural extension of what libraries have always done. A book gives someone access to information they did not have before. A computer gives someone access to technology they may not have at home. A trusted community partner can give someone access to assistance they may not have known how to find.

 

Different resources. Same underlying purpose: access.