Increasing Social Service Access through Libraries: Insights from the Community Connections Collaborative

Join us to learn how three diverse library systems (Glendale, Madera, and Oceanside) increased awareness of local resources and services through the creation of Community Resource Hubs staffed by Community Resource Specialists and/ or Social Workers. Hear how we got started (staffing, partnerships, spaces, and equipment), what’s worked, what we’ve learned, and the impact of the project on the communities we serve.

This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Presenters: 

Tiffany Barrios is a Senior Library Supervisor overseeing Adult & Teen Services for Glendale Library, Arts & Culture including leading Glendale Library’s Mental Health Initiative.  This project includes a social
worker program, an annual mental health fair and public programming.

David Ontiveros completed their Bachelor’s of Social Work from Humboldt State University, with emphasis on generalist social work practices in rural and indigenous communities. They use their learned skills and lived ideals to work as the Community Resource Specialist for the Oceanside Public
Library and volunteer alongside community and mutual aid organizers to empower their hometown of Oceanside.

Christopher Pineda is a Community Resource Specialist for GLAC. He received his MSW from CSULA in 2019. He has worked 10 years with the homeless population through a local organization here in Glendale CA, named Ascencia.

Krista Riggs serves as Library Director for Madera County Library. She previously supervised Programming, Marketing, Eservices, and various library branches in Fresno County, where she got her start as a children’s librarian.  For several years, Krista wrote the Best Practices column for PLA’s Public Libraries Magazine.

Lacey Taylor is a Community Resource Specialist at the Madera County Library with experience in actively working with the community and assisting with most of the children’s programming.

Marie Town serves as the Library Division Manager for the Oceanside Public Library. In this role, she was part of the Library team who applied for the grants, and facilitated the hiring and onboarding of the Community Resource Specialist for the new services under the Community Connections Collaborative.

This is a CALL Homegrown event.