> This vision of the public library as public welfare's physical manifestation is a modern invention that is not anchored in history. It didn't need to be. It

> This vision of the public library as public welfare's physical manifestation is a modern invention that is not anchored in history. It didn't need to be. It wasn't like they were turning away the homeless with library door security guards back then. It simply wasn't a problem. From the article: "In every public place, the evidence of a social welfare system that has been chipped away at for decades is on display." The library has become a last resort, by default. The solution is "doing things that are much more difficult: building more social housing, hiring more social workers, investing in mental health workers, schools, community centres, and everything else needed to address problems before they reach the library’s doors"