ACLA Community Support Services is pleased to introduce this month’s featured Fellows, Betty, Olivia, and Sydney. Betty can usually be found in the graphic novels section of CLP Main where she has been providing caring support and practical assistance to patrons since September. Olivia is a newer addition to CLP’s Squirrel Hill branch. When not assisting patrons individually, you might see her in attendance at programs or engaging with families in the Children’s Department. Sydney can often be spotted at community events, programming, and pop-ups hosted by Braddock Carnegie Library. She is available to meet with patrons at the library’s interim location on Braddock Avenue and will be with them until the transition back to their fully renovated, historic space this spring.

–Katrina Mink, BSW/MSW, Social Work in Libraries Program Coordinator

Olivia Blumenthal, Wilkinsburg Public Library

What was your educational and work background prior to your placement?

I have been working with children for almost a decade now whether it be nannying or working full time at summer camps. Additionally, I have a background in Financial Wellness.

What unique outside experiences, personal background or special skills do you feel have prepared you for this placement?

As previously mentioned, I have training regarding Financial Education and Wellness which I think have prepared me for this position greatly. Additionally, I am very passionate about working with individuals with special needs and disabilities. I also have been working with children for a very long time which helps me feel prepared for this placement.

Why did you choose the Library Social Work Fellowship?

I chose the Library Social Work Fellowship because I absolutely loved the idea of libraries serving a purpose beyond just a place to check out books. I feel very passionate about making resources as accessible as possible to community members and I felt that the Library Social Work Fellowship was just the place to do this. I hope to acquire skills that will help me in my future career in Social Work.

How can social workers help libraries serve their communities?

Social Workers can help libraries serve their communities by offering free resources to patrons that they may not be able to learn about elsewhere. Libraries are very accessible buildings, making a unique opportunity to give resources to as many people as possible. I am so excited for this opportunity!

Sydney Mahmood, Braddock Carnegie Library

What was your educational and work background prior to your placement?

I recently graduated from Pitt with my B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice and Professional Writing. I worked for Achieving True Self, where I used ABA to provide personalized behavioral support services for children with Autism. I was a research assistant for the CORE lab at Pitt, where our focus was on dynamics of conflict. I am also proud to say I graduated summa cum laude and received the Panther Forward scholarship!

What unique outside experiences, personal background or special skills do you feel have prepared you for this placement?

My most valuable skills from my past experiences are technical writing and communication. I have necessary design skills and helped look over dozens of resumes. I have experience in many types of writing, i.e. research papers, memos, and white papers. I have always been driven to work with others, and in my roles I learned how to empathetically listen and resolve conflict with all ages. I am also a very creative person and this will be a great outlet when designing programs!

Why did you choose the Library Social Work Fellowship?

The library is an amazing resource and a place I felt as a child to be magical. The fellowship felt like the perfect place to dip my toes into social work and get to know and help the community and all types of populations.

How can social workers help libraries serve their communities?

Social workers are valuable assets to the library and can help grow the library in many ways. Libraries hold an abundance of knowledge and resources, and social workers can use this to draw in the community and provide relief.

Betty Kromah, CLP – Main

What was your educational and work background prior to your placement?

I am a senior undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, studying Social Work. My work background begins with my volunteering in Americorp’s Jumpstart Pittsburgh program, where I collaborated with peers to create engaging lessons around socio-emotional learning for students from underrepresented backgrounds. I also worked as a TRiO Student Support Services Teaching assistant, sharing my experiences as a first-generation college student from a low-income background with peers who hold similar identities. Additionally, I was a peer facilitator for Pitt’s leadership development program, Panther Leadership Academy, where I co-facilitated lessons and activities based on campus leadership.

What unique outside experiences, personal background or special skills do you feel have prepared you for this placement?

I have been a Resident Assistant (RA) in first-year residence hall for three years and am currently a Lead Resident Assistant (LRA) for one of the dormitories on campus. In addition to being an RA who supports my residents, as LRA, I provide mentorship and support to the RAs I work alongside in the dorm. One thing this experience taught me is the importance of being present to support residents and fellow RAs. Through these roles, I’ve learned how powerful active listening can be for people seeking support. Being an RA often mirrors the work that social workers do because we also engage in information referrals (referring students to campus resources), community engagement and program planning (creating engaging events for residents to familiarize themselves with their dorm community), so these are skills that I believe translate well into my placement and are a solid foundation for my skills as an upcoming social worker.

Why did you choose the Library Social Work Fellowship?

I chose the Library Social Work Fellowship because as a social work student, I am figuring out the populations I want to work with upon entering the career. I recognize that libraries are spaces where people from all walks of life come together to utilize available resources, and that by joining this fellowship, I’d learn about my social work passions as I work with diverse populations.

How can social workers help libraries serve their communities?

Social workers are an important resource for libraries because they serve as a bridge between the library and community and help serve in many ways. The approaches range from individualized support with patrons in identifying helpful community resources to organizing programs and events with community and/or library partners.