Resumen de Homelessness and the ethics of information access

Corina Bardoff

• Many public libraries have rules against strong body odor, bringing large amounts of luggage into the library, sleeping, and bathing in restrooms. These rules disproportionately affect library patrons who are experiencing homelessness. This article reviews recent literature that considers legal and social justice perspectives on homelessness and libraries, as well as the policies of four urban public library systems. Although these rules may be legal and are widely used, people without homes have no other access to information and thus have an even stronger need for the resources of public libraries than other members of the general public. The author concludes that blocking their access conflicts with the mission of public libraries to provide information to all.