Perceptions of library students versus library professionals toward the homeless patron: a comparative study

by Budnick, Vanessa M.

Utilizing the Attitudes Toward the Homeless Inventory, surveys were distributed to 21 graduate students in library science as well as 48 library professionals in order to determine their attitudes toward the homeless community and to determine if there is any change in attitude affiliated with a shift from student to practitioner. The survey results showed that both students and professionals held a lack of stigmatizing attitudes toward homelessness. Students demonstrated mildly stigmatizing attitudes in comparison to professionals when it came to survey items dealing with a willingness to associate with homeless individuals.