{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T20:08:43Z","timestamp":1792786123210,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785974400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"funder":[{"name":"Institute of Museums and Library Services","award":["LG-254821-OLS-23"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LG-254821-OLS-23"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/030prv062","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Library social work is an emerging field. In rural communities, where resources and infrastructure are often limited, public libraries serve as vital community hubs. However, little is known about rural contexts, particularly community needs and librarians\u2019 experiences. This study explored rural residents\u2019 perspectives on libraries and librarians\u2019 experiences in addressing their community\u2019s psychosocial needs. The authors used mixed-methods data from a large project aimed at developing a social service model for rural libraries. As part of this project, the authors conducted a statewide survey of rural residents (N = 1,145), followed by qualitative interviews with rural librarians (N = 11). The survey reported a wide range of psychosocial needs and showed their high expectations for local libraries to address them through various services, including resource referrals, online consultations, and in-library experts (e.g., social workers). Community members generally viewed psychosocial service provision as a fundamental role of local libraries, recognizing them as essential spaces for community well-being. This study underscored the gap between rural communities\u2019 psychosocial needs and the capacity of libraries to respond effectively. Social work can help bridge this gap through core skills such as community mobilization, resource navigation, direct service provision when needed, and training and consultation for librarians.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/sw\/swag039","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,14]],"date-time":"2026-07-14T11:39:30Z","timestamp":1784029170000},"page":"347-356","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Bridging Psychosocial Service Gaps in Rural Communities through Library Social Work"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"71","author":[{"given":"Michin","family":"Hong","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Social Work, Indiana University Michin Hong, PhD, is associate professor, , 902 West New York Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ayoung","family":"Yoon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University Ayoung Yoon, PhD, is associate professor, , Indianapolis, IN, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hutcherson","family":"Andricus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Social Work, Indiana University Hutcherson Andricus, MSW, is doctoral student, , Indianapolis, IN, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karen","family":"Kohl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MLIS student, Indiana University Karen Kohl, BS, is research assistant and , Indianapolis, IN, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026092109070180300_swag039-B1","author":"American Library Association","year":".."},{"key":"2026092109070180300_swag039-B2","author":"Ayres","year":"2012"},{"key":"2026092109070180300_swag039-B3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1111\/jrh.12335","article-title":"Differences in rural 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