An Exploratory Social Justice Framework to Develop Public Library Services with Underserved Families

ABSTRACT An issue in the 21st century is how public libraries can be strategic and impactful to achieve greater equity. Based on a qualitative meta-analysis of chapters from the authors’ book A Librarian’s Guide to Engaging Families published in 2021, this article presents a framework of social justice to strengthen library services to engage underserved families in student learning. Three themes include: 1) Public libraries welcome underserved families using targeted universalism and active inclusion strategies. 2) They take bold leadership to rectify historically imbalanced inequities by removing barriers and reallocating resources. 3) They respect family roles/agency and uphold community economic development.