immigrants and refugees Archives | Page 4 of 5

Adriana Blancarte-Hayward and Helen Chou

Serving Immigrants and Refugees in Public Libraries

By Amy Carlton | June 24, 2018

All of the panelists said the need for services to immigrants has been increasing, both for traditional library work—collection development in multiple languages and English classes—and for services that focus on civil rights, civic engagement, and social justice. Eva Raison, coordinator of immigrant services at Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), said BPL has added two full-time … Continue reading Serving Immigrants and Refugees in Public Libraries →

Hasan Minhaj at the Public Library Association Conference in Philadelphia on March 24. Photo: Laura Kinser

Newsmaker: Hasan Minhaj

By Terra Dankowski | June 1, 2018

You share some intensely personal experiences in Homecoming King about being the child of an immigrant. Was it hard deciding what to codify into comedy? In a comedy special you have only 70 minutes, so a lot of times you’re working with coffee and you need to boil it down to comedy espresso. I’m trying to … Continue reading Newsmaker: Hasan Minhaj →

Newsmaker: Junot Díaz

By Phil Morehart | May 1, 2018

Islandborn is your first book for kids. What was its inspiration? There were multiple inspirations. A lot of it was being a writer with godchildren, nephews, and nieces always saying, “Hey, will you write us a story?” And knowing that I should write them a story, because when I was growing up a kid of … Continue reading Newsmaker: Junot Díaz →

Learning Spanish First

By Cathay Reta | May 1, 2018

In California, more than 565,000 Spanish-speaking adults cannot read or write in any language, according to the 2010–2012 American Community Survey. This affects their ability to learn English, to support their children’s education, and to advance in the workplace. It often leaves them feeling vulnerable and isolated. In 2015, the James Irvine Foundation funded an … Continue reading Learning Spanish First →

A Welcome Place

By Phil Morehart | February 10, 2018

“Libraries carve out a special place for refugees in our community,” said Joseph Wismann-Horther, integration partnership supervisor for Colorado Refugee Services Program. He said there has been a mischaracterization of refugees in the US in the media and by elected officials since the 2016 election. Libraries can help combat these falsehoods, he noted. Wismann-Horther began … Continue reading A Welcome Place →

Dewey Decibel Episode 18: Dewey Goes Global

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Dewey Goes Global

October 4, 2017

First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Sandra Uwiringiyimana, author of How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of War Child (HarperCollins, 2017), which chronicles her life as a survivor of the 2004 Gatumba massacre in Burundi and as a refugee in the United States. They discuss the book, the … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Dewey Goes Global →

The North York Central Library branch of Toronto Public Library hosted a Syrian newcomers event to welcome its newest patrons. Photo: Toronto Public Library.

Project Welcome

By Michael Dowling | September 22, 2017

Since 1975 the United States has accepted more than 3 million refugees. Despite current restrictions, more than 45,000 arrived between October 2016 and June 2017. The American Library Association (ALA) recognizes America’s immigrants as strong and valuable members of the social fabric of this nation, and the Library Bill of Rights states that a person’s right … Continue reading Project Welcome →

Desiree Alexander, Instructional Technology Supervisor for Caddo Parish Public Schools and founder of Educator Alexander Consulting, speaks at the American Library Association’s 2017 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June 24, 2017

Serving Teens of Color

By Dawn Abron | June 24, 2017

Tagoe partnered with Catholic Charities of Dallas to add programs to the summer reading program and provide citizenship information for immigrants and refugees. Alexander stressed the importance of promoting and branding your library. “Promote like your life depends on it,” she declared. Using social media is a first step, but she also recommended involving teens in … Continue reading Serving Teens of Color →

Jelani Cobb speaks at the ACLU of Illinois luncheon, March 17, 2017.

Old Snake, New Skin

By George M. Eberhart | March 20, 2017

So when the ACLU of Illinois held its annual luncheon at the Hilton Chicago on March 17, FTRF and other staffers from the American Library Association (ALA) headquarters joined some 2,000 other like-minded individuals for its program on “Fighting for a More Perfect Union.” Although the topics addressed did not touch on libraries per se, … Continue reading Old Snake, New Skin →

Touger Vang (left), public services coordinator at Yolo County (Calif.) Public Library, speaks to attendees at the Project Welcome summit on February 6. Photo: Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries

Resources for Resettlement

By Terra Dankowski | February 14, 2017

The refugee crisis isn’t new. According to the US State Department, more than 3.3 million refugees—persons fleeing their home country to escape persecution, war, or violence—have resettled in the US since 1975. But the summit seemed timely, as the legality as to who should be welcomed within US borders is tested, and debate among the … Continue reading Resources for Resettlement →

Newsmaker: Jamie Lee Curtis

By Terra Dankowski | September 1, 2016

Your new book, This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From, explores themes of immigration and origin. Was there anything about the current climate in this country that compelled you to cover these themes? This is not a political book. Every person has an immigrant story in their family, … Continue reading Newsmaker: Jamie Lee Curtis →

From left: Irene Munster, associate director of the Priddy Library for the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland; Raymond Pun, first-year student success librarian at California State University, Fresno; and Sharon McQueen, a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin‒Madison.

Immigrants and the Library

By George M. Eberhart | August 18, 2016

Irene Munster, associate director of the Priddy Library for the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, described the waves of Jewish immigrants to Argentina from 1889 to the 1930s, many of whom established their own library collections in Yiddish, Russian, German, or Polish languages in the towns and cities they settled in. As refugees … Continue reading Immigrants and the Library →

Latest Library Links

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Mackenzi Klemann writes: “Hoosiers suffering mental health crises are visiting public libraries for help—transforming the role of librarians who act simultaneously as researchers, archivists, and quasi–social workers. Mental Health America of Indiana is stepping in to train librarians in how to respond to these crises and direct patrons to reliable information on suicide prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health disorders. Todd Grooten, a licensed social worker and co-chair of the Indiana Library Federation’s mental health committee, welcomed the opportunity as library staff like himself increasingly encounter people in crisis seeking internet access and other resources from public libraries.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle, July 9
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Kelly Jensen writes: “If there were a single word to capture the state of library cuts across the US, it would be ‘rough.’ It’s rough not only for public libraries but also for school and academic libraries. This is not a comprehensive look at library cuts in 2026. It can’t be. Most of the time, these stories—especially ones about ‘smaller’ cuts to library materials budgets or to popular databases—don’t make the news. But this sampling is representative of what’s happening across libraries in the US right now.”

Well Sourced, July 11
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The Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section Teaching Methods Committee has added new committee-recommended sources to its Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction and Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction lists. The committee updates these lists with new resources and annotations annually. Resources included on this list are chosen for their innovative discussions of teaching methods, instructional design, and assessment tools or techniques in library instruction.

Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section, July 7
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Jose Ruiz-Vazquez writes: “Public libraries are dealing with budget cuts, book bans, and the usual existential questions about whether anyone needs physical collections when they can Google everything. And now artificial intelligence (AI) shows up, and everyone assumes libraries are about to get steamrolled by it too. But watch what’s happening at reference desks: Patrons ask how to determine whether an IRS email is real or a phishing attempt. Small business owners are trying to figure out which AI tool won’t steal their marketing copy. These aren’t edge cases. This is what reference work looks like now.”

Public Libraries Online, July 12
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Maria McCauley writes: “For 30 years, E-Rate has been one of America’s most visionary programs, opening the doors of digital opportunity to every community in our nation. But now E-Rate is under threat. Opponents argue that because E-Rate has succeeded, we no longer need it. But just as our streets and roads require ongoing investment, so too does our digital infrastructure. A digitally connected America—across rural, urban, and tribal lands alike—is a stronger America.” Learn more about proposed changes to E-Rate and how to contribute to advocacy to protect the program at a webinar July 16.

American Libraries column, July 14
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Sallyann Price writes: “Chicago was an apt host for the ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition, marking both ALA’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th birthday. At the Opening General Session, journalist, author, and podcaster Rachel Maddow set the tone for a convening that was both celebratory and deeply reflective on what’s happening in the world. Shifting demographics, rapid advances in technology, and the rise of authoritarianism are all affecting how libraries serve their communities. Maddow wasn’t the only speaker to draw inspiration from the challenges of these times.”

American Libraries feature, July 14
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Whitney Christopher writes: “As concerns about data privacy continue to grow and become increasingly difficult to navigate, libraries play an important role in helping patrons make informed decisions. A key challenge is ensuring patrons understand what happens to their data when they access third-party vendor websites, particularly in cases where tracking and data collection are not immediately visible. An ongoing project within Cornell University Library examines vendor privacy policies alongside the data collected by vendor platforms. The goal is to better align what vendors say in their policies with what their websites actually do, while also improving transparency for patrons.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, July 13

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