Tag Archives: Paris

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!

A Salute to Paris

Standing Committee members outside Bibliothèque Marguerite Duras

Standing Committee members outside Bibliothèque Marguerite Duras

 

From 3-5 May members of the Public Library Standing Committee were in Paris for the mid term meeting. What a warm welcome that beautiful city and our hosts extended to us. Committee member Annie Dourlent had arranged a rich program and we were able to visit three wonderful libraries during our stay:

  • Bibliothèque Marguerite Duras
  • Bibliothèque Louise Michel
  • Bibliothèque publique d’information.

In our meetings we discussed (among other things):

  • the session Exploring an e-book future for the WLIC Congress in Singapore that the Public Libraries Section is co-hosting with Metropolitan Libraries
  • the results of our survey on the words you’d use to describe a public library
  • our satellite for the 2014 WLIC Congress
  • our strategic direction.

Needless to say we also enjoyed the culinary delights that this beautiful city has to offer.

 

Suzanne Payette and Marion Morgan-Bindon at dinner

Suzanne Payette and Marion Morgan-Bindon at dinner

Annie Dourent and Hitomi Takeuchi at dinner

Annie Dourent and Hitomi Takeuchi at dinner

Our thanks to Annie for all the hard work in pulling the weekend together and for the library staff who gave us such interesting and engaging tours of their facilities.