Electronic Green Journal

Public and academic libraries in the United States (U.S.) are actively addressing food insecurity within tIn the winter of 2025, the authors distributed an online survey through library listservs and email. The mixed methods survey was approved by an Institutional Review Board and included single selection, multi-choice, and open-ended questions. Data was collected for approximately 30 days. The respondents were anonymous and no identifying information was collected. Respondents were qualified to complete the survey if they were over 18 years of age, worked in a library, and agreed to accept the risks associated with completing an online survey. Once the data was collected, themes were named for the qualitative data, and the textual content was categorized and quantified in a Google spreadsheet. Likewise, the quantitative data was tabulated in a Google spreadsheet. heir communities. Through a review of existing literature and original mixed-methods research involving 55 library professionals, this study identified a wide array of initiatives that include direct services like food pantries, summer meal programs, cooking classes, and after-school snacks, to indirect support services such as seed libraries, and resource navigation. The findings highlight that while these services provide vital community support, libraries face significant challenges in supporting them, particularly due to funding, staffing, and outreach. The article concludes by offering a framework of planning questions to help library teams in assessing community needs, developing sustainable partnerships, and aligning food security initiatives with their broader institutional missions.