A Seat at the Table: How Public Libraries Engage in Food Justice

Food insecurity has become an increasingly urgent issue for communities and thus the public libraries that serve them, prompting many libraries to adopt food-related programming as part of their broader mission of community support. This qualitative study investigates how public libraries respond to food insecurity and which initiatives librarians perceive as most successful in addressing community needs, using semi-structured interviews with seven public librarians from institutions that currently offer food programming. Interviews were transcribed, and interview data was thematically coded and analyzed by hand. By comparing perspectives across multiple institutions, this research offers insight into food justice practices in public libraries, identifies successes and effective strategies, and contributes to policy and program development that enables libraries to better support food-insecure patrons and work towards food justice. Interviews revealed how public libraries work towards food justice through initiatives like fridges, pantries, and programs, emphasizing meeting needs through low-barrier and stigma-free access and expanding public libraries’ roles as agents for positive social change.