Social Work Intern Starts Office Hours At Elmhurst Library

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst Public Library’s new Social Work Intern, Tim Vo, will begin office hours at the library Tuesday, Aug. 28. The library said Vo is an unpaid intern who is pursuing dual Masters degrees in Social Work and Business Administration at Aurora University. Previous to his internship in Elmhurst, he completed an internship with Communities in Schools, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing outside resources such as counseling or social support to children in schools.

The library said it is exploring the option of providing more direct access to social service resources, and the idea of individuals coming to the library to seek help and information is a cornerstone philosophy of public libraries.

“Having someone with a social services background at the library is helpful not only for the public, but for staff,” Director Mary Beth Harper said in a release. “We are testing the waters to determine if this could be a positive evolution of our services to promote a welcoming environment for all.”

According to the library, having a social service specialist available on-site to both staff and patrons adds another facet to the resources available to the community.

Vo’s specialization focuses on the world of non-profit agencies and the unique challenges they face.

“I jumped at this opportunity,” Vo said in a release. “Essentially, my goal here is to get resources to patrons who may need it. We can’t offer any services inside the library, but we’ll be able to refer them out."

The library said throughout Vo’s internship, a needs assessment will be made available to help determine persistent issues and possible future staffing solutions. The library aims to target issues that typically occur in libraries and to handle them in new ways.

Vo’s internship continues until Spring 2019. He is available to assist the public near the 2nd floor computers during these hours: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.

Image via Elmhurst Public Library.