A systematic review of the LIS research on homelessness and libraries

Abstract

This systematic review examines the prevalence, scope, and theoretical underpinnings of scholarly research looking at the intersections of homelessness and libraries from 2000 to 2025. Specifically, this review questions how common research is on this topic, how subtopics including services to families and youth experiencing homelessness and social work in libraries are covered, and what (if any) theoretical frameworks are used. The review found that only 51 articles where published in peer-reviewed library and information science journals in English between 2000 and 2025. Interviews with library workers were the most common methodology used and recent scholarship on social workers in libraries has increased the number of articles being published. Additionally, less than a quarter of the articles in the review were explicit about a conceptual and theoretical framework for the research.

Keywords

systematic review homelessness public libraries theory research

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