Craig Farrell with City Library's Anne-Maree Pfabe.Credit:Chris Hopkins
Melbourne City Council has decided to hire a social worker for its libraries,in an Australian-first program to provide support services to the homeless.
More of Melbourne’s most vulnerable people are relying on libraries to access information,use free computers and wifi and “just find somewhere that is safe,warm and welcoming”,according to Lord Mayor Sally Capp.
“Our libraries are for everyone,” she says.
The librarians at City Library know Mr Farrell by name and don’t mind that he lost his library card. They waived his fine when his library books were stolen.
The guy who runs Journal Cafe in the library “is really nice and always helps me out”.
“They don’t judge me because I am homeless,” Mr Farrell says. “This is a place you are not going to get turned away.”
He churns through books:“I read a lot of Greek mythology and history,pretty much anything sci-fi,Terry Pratchett is my favourite author.”