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dags_'s review against another edition
4.0
Overall: Insightful, well-written, informative. There are many, many tips and perspectives within this book I think will be useful for the rest of my career in the library. The author is passionate about this topic and has the experience to back up his work.
Now...the picky things: Other reviews mention this, but there are parts of the book that feel extremely repetitive; that doesn't cancel out the usefulness of the things shared in this book. However, *that* part other reviews mention was as "yikes" as they made it sound. I hoped, with context, it would sound better.
It didn't.
"If you are a woman, don't worry about your gender. It isn't a problem unless you make it one." is something I never want to read in a book again.
Now...the picky things: Other reviews mention this, but there are parts of the book that feel extremely repetitive; that doesn't cancel out the usefulness of the things shared in this book. However, *that* part other reviews mention was as "yikes" as they made it sound. I hoped, with context, it would sound better.
It didn't.
"If you are a woman, don't worry about your gender. It isn't a problem unless you make it one." is something I never want to read in a book again.
kenocatabay's review against another edition
5.0
Insightful, probing, at times heartbreaking. A must-read for public library workers.
calendric's review against another edition
5.0
This is a critical and important book for anyone working in a public library. There was a new revelation on every page and handles homelessness in a compassionate and empathetic way. Highly highly recommended.
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
There is a definite blind spot here to the gendered element of women staff members interacting with male library patrons (regardless of socio-economic, mental health, or housing status) which I wish had been addressed. Namely that a lot of the tactics here of providing excellent customer service, being polite, friendly, getting to know people, can be tricky for women interacting with men because so many men have been taught to interpret those interactions as invitations for romantic / sexual relationships.
Regardless, so much of this information is and has already been so useful to me that I can't give it less than 4 stars.
Regardless, so much of this information is and has already been so useful to me that I can't give it less than 4 stars.
sarahc_98's review against another edition
4.0
Great book with lots of actionable suggestions that can easily be adapted for specific libraries. Lost one star for the funky tool names that are difficult to remember.
hollymakesawish's review against another edition
2.0
Dowd brings up one of the most important, and often disregarded facts about homelessness: "Money is not the only resource that matters. Relationships are a resource too. You don't need money if you have friends or family willing to help." He goes on to say "Most people who are poor will never be homeless because they have friends or family who will prevent that" and "You only end up in a shelter when every single person you know has given up on you... you only become homeless when *everyone* you have ever trusted has failed you."
I think this should be required reading for LIS students who are public librarian track. He provides a lot of education around homelessness, as well as skills to use and how to respond to different scenarios. I think a lot of librarians already practicing in public libraries will already have these skills, though, at least if they have compassion. For the ones who don't... well, I don't know if this book will change their minds. I hope so.
On why I gave 2 stars: I wish that Dowd considered that people who have experienced, or are experiencing homelessness might read this book. A lot of what he writes can be distressing for people going through, or who have gone through that experience.
I think this should be required reading for LIS students who are public librarian track. He provides a lot of education around homelessness, as well as skills to use and how to respond to different scenarios. I think a lot of librarians already practicing in public libraries will already have these skills, though, at least if they have compassion. For the ones who don't... well, I don't know if this book will change their minds. I hope so.
On why I gave 2 stars: I wish that Dowd considered that people who have experienced, or are experiencing homelessness might read this book. A lot of what he writes can be distressing for people going through, or who have gone through that experience.
mancolepig's review against another edition
4.0
One would think in our profession with so much to read at our fingertips we would have more books about librarianship written with creativity and candor. And yet, most professional books read as if they were manufactured by robots instead of formed by passionate people. That is why The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness was such a breath of fresh air. I actually ENJOYED reading it, then I learned something, then I kept enjoying myself, then I kept learning on and on in a wonderful circle. God, why couldn't they have assigned books like this in library school? Probably because outside of this book, they don't really exist.
Anyway, this is filed with great content about how to treat ANY patron, not just patrons experiencing homelessness. But the special attention paid to those in extreme poverty broke a lot of preconceived notions I had and helped me refocus on acting empathetically with fairness and dignity afforded to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Dowd has given me some tools to use in conflict resolution, but I think more importantly he has given me some goals I'd like to bring into my work and tangible things I can do to improve my service and build relationships with my patrons.
I don't mind the casual style as others have (Like I said, I've been dying for a librarianship book that isn't B O R I N G), but I do agree with others that the pop culture reference names for his tools were confusing. I also agree that it would have been nice to lean more about homelessness from the perspective of people of color and LQBTQ, but I think there is more than enough great info that library employees at all levels could benefit from reading this (That is if they want to continue in our wacky profession).
Anyway, this is filed with great content about how to treat ANY patron, not just patrons experiencing homelessness. But the special attention paid to those in extreme poverty broke a lot of preconceived notions I had and helped me refocus on acting empathetically with fairness and dignity afforded to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Dowd has given me some tools to use in conflict resolution, but I think more importantly he has given me some goals I'd like to bring into my work and tangible things I can do to improve my service and build relationships with my patrons.
I don't mind the casual style as others have (Like I said, I've been dying for a librarianship book that isn't B O R I N G), but I do agree with others that the pop culture reference names for his tools were confusing. I also agree that it would have been nice to lean more about homelessness from the perspective of people of color and LQBTQ, but I think there is more than enough great info that library employees at all levels could benefit from reading this (That is if they want to continue in our wacky profession).
labibliobecca's review against another edition
4.0
An important book for public library employees, but more generally, Dowd’s message about choosing an empathy-driven approach (as opposed to punishment-driven) can benefit anyone in whose work involves serving others.
Dowd is undoubtedly qualified to offer insight. He has worked with people experiencing homelessness for decades. This book is a wealth of information, without being dense. There are lots of cross-references, showing how techniques relate and overlap.
Dowd describes homelessness (and those experiencing it) with nuance. He prepares you for what to do when a situation turns dangerous, but emphasizes that fear is often unfounded and due to stigma. It’s not too idealistic, though. It’s more like he’s saying, “When you do this, you’re making it worse. Do this instead.” The result is a lot of small ways to make any patron feel respected, even as you’re telling them they need to stop and/or leave.
Time for qualms. The constant references to pop culture and public figures are both grating and confusing. There are some points I wish he spent more time covering, and others that grew really redundant. His takes on gender and sex work were bad. I don’t know how else to put that. He was strangely dismissive for a book so focused on empathy (it is literally in the title).
In all, the meat of it is compelling, much more so than my recent read of [b:Crucial Conversations|15014|Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High|Kerry Patterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497193248l/15014._SX50_.jpg|2051713].
Dowd is undoubtedly qualified to offer insight. He has worked with people experiencing homelessness for decades. This book is a wealth of information, without being dense. There are lots of cross-references, showing how techniques relate and overlap.
Dowd describes homelessness (and those experiencing it) with nuance. He prepares you for what to do when a situation turns dangerous, but emphasizes that fear is often unfounded and due to stigma. It’s not too idealistic, though. It’s more like he’s saying, “When you do this, you’re making it worse. Do this instead.” The result is a lot of small ways to make any patron feel respected, even as you’re telling them they need to stop and/or leave.
Time for qualms. The constant references to pop culture and public figures are both grating and confusing. There are some points I wish he spent more time covering, and others that grew really redundant. His takes on gender and sex work were bad. I don’t know how else to put that. He was strangely dismissive for a book so focused on empathy (it is literally in the title).
In all, the meat of it is compelling, much more so than my recent read of [b:Crucial Conversations|15014|Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High|Kerry Patterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497193248l/15014._SX50_.jpg|2051713].
katef's review against another edition
4.0
Practical, insightful and engaging. This has great tips for all types of conflict resolution and de-escalation, but excels in providing an empathy window into the lives of those experiencing homelessness. A great reminder of the individuality of our internal lives, and how important it is for those of us in public service to keep empathy and calm at the forefront. I did bristle at the tactic of blaming policies on 'the man' - maybe because I kind of am the man? But also because I think it's important to be able to explain policies, that the policies themselves are reasonable, and that I as a staff member can stand behind them.