Join us to learn best practices and program ideas
for supporting vulnerable populations in your community

In our new online course, Serving Vulnerable Populations, you’ll learn about innovative library programs at the intersection of social work and public health that you can emulate in your library.  You’ll also learn how to identify, connect with and serve vulnerable populations in your community and how to leverage partnerships to provide targeted support where needed. 

Learning Outcomes

• Identify vulnerable populations in your community and understand their most pressing needs
• Identify community partners to support your work
• Assess and optimize current outreach methods, and engage in new, effective approaches to best reach vulnerable populations
• Gain a foundational understanding of the intersections of public health, social work, and library service
• Understand effective engagement models, such as peer-to-peer and participatory, that include the sharing of lived experience among individuals  
• Engage in a project that you initiate, define, and work on in a group workshop with feedback from a group facilitator
• Recognize problematic stereotypes, acts of implicit/explicit bias, and micro-aggressions in the process of connecting with vulnerable groups
• Learn how to collaborate with members of those populations by grounding yourself in cultural humility and recognizing them as equals and experts on their own experience and needs

Vulnerable populations include, but are not limited to, people experiencing homelessness, people who are currently or formerly incarcerated, foster youth, isolated seniors, new immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, veterans, those recovering from addiction, people with low literacy, or individuals re-entering the workforce.

Register by March 22 and save with early bird rates

Contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co for discounted rates on groups of 3 or more!

Course Format

Developed and led by experts in the field, this three-week program includes live sessions on Tuesday, May 17, May 24 and May 31 from 2:00-4:00 pm ET with an asynchronous, facilitator-led workshop in which you’ll define and complete a personal project to action in your community.

Can’t make a live session? No worries!

All sessions will be recorded for on-demand viewing.

Certificate of Completion Provided - 15 PD Credits

Bonus Content!

You’ll also have access to our foundational bonus content—rich supporting materials you can explore at your own pace, including readings, activities, videos and a series of webinars—from Library Journal and School Library Journal editors and contributors.

Who should take this course?

Any librarian or library stakeholder wanting to gain tools to effectively reach and serve the vulnerable populations in their community. 

Our transformational online courses have given thousands of librarians the tools and vision for meaningful change. Join us and load up your tool box!

We thank the following course advisors
who have helped shape the program and course work.

Klem-Marí Cajigas, Family Literacy Coordinator, Bringing Books to Life, Nashville Public Library

Megan Emery Schadlich, Author, Instructional Coach, and Creator of The Healing Library; former Experience Designer & Coordinator at Chattanooga Public Library

Rob Simmons, Director of Social Services and Public Safety at Oak Park Public Library in Illinois

Register by March 22 and save with early bird rates

Contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co for discounted rates on groups of 3 or more!