Monthly Archives: July 2016

Libraries: a sanctuary in times of need – the Public Libraries response

IFLA_Annie-Dourlent

 

 

 

 

Libraries throughout the world have a strong history of responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, providing a welcoming environment, a place of refuge for body and soul, and a source of information.

An off-site session will be held at the IFLA WLIC in Columbus (a joint project of the Public Libraries Section and the Library services for Multicultural Population Section) -session 103 – August 15th – Columbus Public Library

During the first part of this session, the Pubic Library Section has chosen to highlight the way libraries in Europe have been able to welcome refugees and provide them both a safe space and many services.

Libraries welcoming refugees

Claudia Lux will present an overview of international examples about services to refugees and newcomers…and our colleagues from Hamburg (Germany), Malmö (Sweden) and Paris (France) will discussed various topics on the way libraries welcome refugees and respond to their needs.

Malmö welcomes refugees

In 2015, many European countries were facing a massive arrival of refugees due to the civil war in Syria.  Many libraries were able to open widely their doors to refugees, to create a welcoming, lively and learning atmosphere for refugees and immigrants. The have provided or enhanced services such as language cafés, Internet access and digital workshops, information about asylum seekers’ rights, and various administrative procedures….

To reach refugees, and especially unaccompanied young people, libraries have built partnerships with other municipal public bodies, NGOs, taking part in events outside of the libraries, organizing events in the libraries, proposing workshops in refugees’ homes or shelters.

The staff have been very involved, with working groups on refugees’ projects, intercultural work, on the way to make library spaces and organization understandable. Some libraries now employ dedicated staff, others have integrated and trained volunteers to expand their services to refugees, mainly language cafés. Some volunteers are refugees themselves, sharing their skills, participating actively in workshops and events. Libraries have broadened the intercultural work they already did toward population with migrant background.

Libraries have thus highlighted their role in the city, how they are great contributors to social inclusion and cohesion. in some cases, their involvement has attracted a lot of attention among citizens, public bodies or even companies.

Read more about the actions and services of libraries in  Hamburg , Malmö  and Paris  for refugees.

During the second part of the session, Mary Grace Falherty will give an overview of Libraries response in times of disaster, and there will be presentations and workshops with colleagues from Oslo (Norway), United States and Toronto (Canada).

Looking forward to seeing you in Columbus!

IFLA Little Library

IFLA Book Box

IFLA has announced that at this years World  Library and Information Congress.in Columbus they will host an IFLA Little Library with the slogan Leave a book – Take a book!

In many countries across the world, people have created mini-libraries, or street-libraries to share their books with their neighbours. You will have seen examples of these on our Facebook Page.

What better place than to have an international version of this than at the IFLA Congress!

So if you have finished your book and are looking for a new read, look for one of the ten red crates around the  congress center and take part in our book exchange. All languages are welcome! Help build a literacy-friendly IFLA WLIC! At the end of the Congress, any books still in the Little Libraries will be donated to charitable organisation.

 

Bright idea for young asylum seekers

IFLA_Lo-Claesson

 

 

 

 

The Swedish Motala library has received 670 000 SEK to a project where the newly arrived young people will teach seniors manage computers and how the internet works.

The money comes from the non-profit organization Enter Sweden, which since 2010 runs the project IT Guide Sweden. The mission is that newly arrived young people teach seniors Internet using computers, tablets and phones, while the young people come in close contact with the Swedish language and learn more about Sweden.

Motala & Vadstena Tidning/Pelle Johansson

Motala & Vadstena Tidning/Pelle Johansson

– We will recruit and train the newly arrived young people who read the language introduction program at Motala secondary schools. They will then be on hourly employee and given the task of helping seniors. This includes to teach them to surf the web, how to pay bills and how to create an account on Facebook, says Ms Lundberg, manager Enter Sweden.

Two immigrants who today are IT guides will serve as trainers and mentors to the students who will participate in the project.

– It feels really exciting and we know from experience how much the newcomers can learn about Sweden through meetings with seniors, says Library Director Birgitta Hellman.

– We expect to be off and running with it-cafe on Saturdays in October and then we hope to expand to branch libraries. It can also be a collaboration with the elderly care.