Libraries across the country provide services to the homeless, but some go beyond standard outreach, throwing their doors open and welcoming in those community members. Among them are the Denver and San Francisco public libraries, which have created unique services to bring additional dignity and humanity to library programming for people experiencing homelessness. Both libraries have hired full-time social workers to help address the homelessness crises in their communities, and that commitment shows through in their partnerships and programming. Who hasn't seen a mob of people waiting outside for a library to open its doors? At 9 a.m. on September 8, patrons at the Denver Public Library (DPL) experienced something more than a wait for the library to open: they had live music, bagels, and a cup of coffee. Technology and instruction librarian Simone Groene-Nieto and the Engage adult and family programming group at DPL were looking for a way to provide fun, entertainment-oriented services to bring some joy to the homeless people who come to their library. With so many people waiting for the library to open every day, it seemed like a great idea to have a pop-up concert.
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