Public libraries do far more than lend books. They are one of the remaining freely accessible civil society institutions and, in their local form, provide a public sphere for civil engagement; from social arena, to providing opportunities for participation. However, austerity measures have cut public library budgets, resulting in limited opening hours, depleted stocks, reduced staff and a growing reliance on volunteers. Other services are fighting, or have succumb to, closure. While cuts to public libraries affect us all, the consequences are unequal and reflect a widening gulf between rich and poor. Those who are excluded, less able or disenfranchised disproportionately rely on public libraries, not only as a source of information, but as a space of inclusion. To illustrate, this paper draws on ongoing research on the impact of austerity on public libraries. It presents the accounts of homeless people and their everyday encounters with their local library. On one hand the public library was relied on for access to information services necessary for navigating welfare reform, for informal education and books for enjoyment. On the other, it cultivated homeless users’ sense of belonging, providing a space of safety, peace and sanctuary. The paper demonstrates the vital contribution that public libraries make to supporting community well-being and social justice – but only when given proper investment and priority. A stark rendering of what will be lost should statutory public library services continue to be cut, this paper demonstrations how austerity is creating the conditions for widening social divisions.

1. PUBLIC LIBRARIES,
AUSTERITY AND
HOMELESSNESS
Dr Emma Davidson
Centre for Research on Families and Relationships at University of Edinburgh

2. Most days. I usually go to the library.
Get in, sit and read. You’ve just got to
fill your time. It’s hard because it is a
long day – Robert, rough sleeper
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3. Bring the attention of your audience over a key
concept using icons or illustrations
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MORE THAN BOOKS

4. • Rich, yet under-
researched, sociological
terrain
• Largely restricted to
specialist publications
• Loud but echoing voices
on social media
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THE SOCIOLOGY OF LIBRARIES
AND THEIR PUBLICS

5. 5
“the very low-level help,
support and everyday
interaction and
sociability that is
enabled by the spaces of
the middle layer”
Anderson, Brownlie and Milne
(2015)
PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ORDINARY KINDNESSES

6. • “Powerful way to promote
civic engagement and
social interaction, both
within communities and
across group lines”
(2018:16)
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LIBRARIES AS SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE

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Libraries change lives for the better. As a locally accountable service, they
are well-placed to respond to local needs and issues. Libraries can have a
critical role in helping people to realise their potential, and especially
those from disadvantaged backgrounds
Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England
STRATEGIC SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

8. 8

9. 9
Image source:
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON LIBRARIES

10. 2006/07 2016/17 Change
England 3,494 2,958 -15%
Scotland 603 527 -13%
Wales 334 260 -22%
GB Total 4,431 3,745 -15%
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NUMBER OF LIBRARIES OPEN MORE THAN 10 HOURS
PER WEEK
Reduced to 3,618 in 2017/18
Source: https://uklibrarynews.wordpress.com/2017/12/18/initial-cipfa-data-analysis-by-tim-coates-
december-2017/

11. At 7am I leave the night shelter or tent, and go to Streetwork
for a shower. I go to a soup kitchen for breakfast, and stay
there until 11am, then I go a library. Around 3-4pm I have
dinner at one of the soup kitchens, and stay there until 5-6pm,
then I go to the shopping centre – it is warm inside – and I can
use the free wi-fi there. (homeless charity, service user)
Street life is noisy, you’re always on edge. That’s what I like
about the library. It gives you the space to relax, not worry
(homeless charity, service user)
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SEARCHING FOR A PLACE ‘TO BE’

12. [In the library] yes, there will be a collection of
people all trying to ignore each other saying, 'We're
not really homeless; we're just sitting here reading
a book' (homeless charity, service user)
I think it's stigma [of being homeless in public
space]; stigma's a big one. (service user, homeless
charity)
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BEING ‘NORMAL’

13. It's Universal Credit. It's welfare. It's searching for a
job. Everything is so digitalised now. It’s bidding for
houses. It's connecting or reconnecting or
maintaining connections with family and friends and
it's email. So it's to function I think, to survive
(homeless case worker)
We are seeing a massive increase in demand for
PCs, employability and filling in forms. But it’s
difficult – we aren’t welfare advisors (library staff)
INFORMATION LITERACY & DIGITAL INCLUSION

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More people are coming to the library
who are cold, who are hungry, who are
falling asleep. Drying socks on the
radiator. It’s not any easy balance
(library staff)
Staff are under severe pressure. We
can’t do all the things we want to do, or
are being asked to do (library staff)
A PLACE FOR ALL?

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A PLACE FOR ALL
This or this?

16. ANY QUESTIONS?
You can find me at
@emz_davidson
e.c.davidson@ed.ac.uk
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