Region One Insights Webinar Series: How to Initiate, Support, and Evaluate a Social Work Practicum Student in Your Library: Lessons Learned From A Statewide Initiative in New Jersey

Public libraries often serve many patrons with social service-related needs, which has led to an increase in library-based social work programs and partnerships across the US and internationally. As a first step in adding a social worker and/or a cost-saving way of adding on-site social work services, a growing number of public libraries are interested in or are already hosting social work practicum students. However, many libraries are "reinventing the wheel" with these placements due to limited guidance and shared learning which could help address common barriers that frequently arise. To assist libraries with understanding the steps necessary to initiate their own practicum placement, prepare staff for the presence of a social worker, and orient, supervise, and support an on-site social work student, this panel will present information and lessons learned from a recent New Jersey statewide initiative. Panelists will provide an overview of the 2023-2024 “Social Work Informed Library Services Project,” an initiative led by the New Jersey State Library through a collaboration with Rutgers University School of Social Work and national library/social work consultants. This project focused on strengthening public libraries’ capacity for providing social work-informed library services for their communities by developing an intentional collaboration between the State Library, local public libraries, and Rutgers University, creating a training curriculum and handbooks for both library supervisors and social work students, and forming an ongoing community of practice to promote connection, collaboration, and shared problem-solving between social work interns and public libraries throughout the state. In this webinar, you will learn about this project, find information about hosting social work practicum students or developing a similar project in your own area, and gain tools needed to help you prepare for, orient, supervise, and support social work students hosted by your library.

Presenters/Panelists (in alphabetical order):

Sarah Johnson, MLIS, LMSW
Adjunct Faculty, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences

Jennifer Nelson
State Librarian, New Jersey State Library

Karen Parry
Library Director, East Brunswick Public Library

David Perez, MSW
Social Work & Diversity Services Manager, Long Branch Free Public Library
Practicum Liaison and Instructor, Rutgers University School of Social Work

Nancy Schley, MSW
Associate Director of Practicum Learning, Rutgers University School of Social Work

Charles Senteio, PhD, MBA, LCSW
Associate Professor, Rutgers University School of Communication and Information
Practicum Instructor, Rutgers University School of Social Work

Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW
Owner/Consultant, Beth Wahler Consulting LLC
Affiliated Research Faculty and Previous Director, UNC Charlotte School of Social Work
 

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