http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/ All things change when we do -- Kukei Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:48:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/#comment-95717 Suburbanlife Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:41:35 +0000 http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/#comment-95717 Thanks for providing the link to the Chip Ward article. Our library in my town is a haven for many mentally ill individuals, especially during the wet winters. many of these people are not homeless, but live in group homes from where they can come and go duringthe day. The library is a place where many people can read what they like, sit in warmth and relax; it is much more intellectually stimulating than many group homes to hand out in. The homeless people here do not make use of the library, so I am uncertain about the policies regarding them, so shall have to ask. I was working as a curator of a public gallery some years ago. A toxically drunk native man fell on the concrete by our front door in snowy weather. . I requested some co-workers to help bring him inside until the ambulance came, they declined, feeling it was none of gallery staff's concern to aid this man. It was frustrating to face this kind of reaction and the saying "you are your brother's keeper" motivated me to act and help him despite criticism from my co-workers. The presence of homeless and mentally ill people among us is a reminder that each of us, individually become helpless and a burden on others within our lifetimes, some of us soone, others later, but for certain, every single one of us. Thanks for providing the link to the Chip Ward article. Our library in my town is a haven for many mentally ill individuals, especially during the wet winters. many of these people are not homeless, but live in group homes from where they can come and go duringthe day. The library is a place where many people can read what they like, sit in warmth and relax; it is much more intellectually stimulating than many group homes to hand out in. The homeless people here do not make use of the library, so I am uncertain about the policies regarding them, so shall have to ask.
I was working as a curator of a public gallery some years ago. A toxically drunk native man fell on the concrete by our front door in snowy weather. . I requested some co-workers to help bring him inside until the ambulance came, they declined, feeling it was none of gallery staff’s concern to aid this man. It was frustrating to face this kind of reaction and the saying “you are your brother’s keeper” motivated me to act and help him despite criticism from my co-workers.
The presence of homeless and mentally ill people among us is a reminder that each of us, individually become helpless and a burden on others within our lifetimes, some of us soone, others later, but for certain, every single one of us.

]]> http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/#comment-95294 Donna Thu, 02 Aug 2007 03:02:28 +0000 http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/#comment-95294 You're welcome. I think he's going to become a very important voice in our culture. He writes very well and has some interesting things to say, from a perspective most of us don't see. You’re welcome. I think he’s going to become a very important voice in our culture. He writes very well and has some interesting things to say, from a perspective most of us don’t see.

]]> http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/#comment-95293 Kathryn Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:58:42 +0000 http://www.woodka.com/2007/07/31/how-the-public-library-became-heartbreak-hotel/#comment-95293 Having worked in a library for ten years I'm well-acquainted with this phenomenon, although it wasn't as intense a problem as at his library. This is an excellent article, one that should be plastered on the front page of every newspaper. Thanks for sharing it (and for the other piece by Chip Ward). Having worked in a library for ten years I’m well-acquainted with this phenomenon, although it wasn’t as intense a problem as at his library. This is an excellent article, one that should be plastered on the front page of every newspaper. Thanks for sharing it (and for the other piece by Chip Ward).

]]>