Presentation Title: Information Behavior of the Unhoused Community: Needs, Barriers, and the Role of Libraries as Bridges
Presenter(s): Lilia Wright
Abstract: California’s unhoused community makes up almost a third of the total unhoused population in the United States (de Sousa et. al, 2022). This presentation explores the information needs and information seeking behavior of the unhoused community using Wilson’s information seeking behavior model. Context and variables play a role in the unhoused community’s information seeking behavior. Needs such as shelter and healthcare are evident; however, there is a need for social inclusion. Internal and external factors can inhibit the healthcare information seeking process. The unhoused community uses social media as an information ground. Libraries can form external partnerships and collaborate with social workers to facilitate access to resources. Libraries can help meet the unhoused community’s need for social inclusion and function as an information ground.
Link to Recorded Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L17vZn0HGx5AusuGweXbWysLXMlCBHgL/view?usp=drive_link
Lilia, thank you for sharing your presentation on a topic that impacts many communities and libraries!
Hi Lilia, nice work with this presentation! Libraries as information grounds for people who are unhoused is a critical issue. Thank you for sharing your research on this topic!
A very well done presentation! The amount of help libraries can potentially give to the unhoused is impressive, if they have the funding to help.