Ryan Dowd Biography

2021 FLA Hybrid Conference Keynote Speaker

Ryan Dowd has worked most of his career running homeless shelters.  Currently, he works at the second largest homeless shelter in Illinois.  He trains libraries around the country (and world) on how to work with difficult homeless patrons, using the same tools that homeless shelters employ.  He is the author of the ALA book, “The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness.”  He is married, with two children.  His favorite book is Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.