The Cabell County Public Library in Huntington, W.Va., is among libraries nationwide that provide care and shelter for residents experiencing mental illness or homelessness.HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—When Michael Bare started working as a library assistant, he thought he would be helping with term papers or leading a book club. Instead, he spends most of his time assisting patrons in crisis with nowhere else to go.
“They just want someone to talk to,” said Bare, 37, who has worked for four years at the library in this city of 46,000 on the Ohio River where West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky meet. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.