b4 settlement and public libraries: initiatives and potential_laura heller
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Titulo dela presentacion
Settlement and Public Libraries: Initiatives and Potential
Laura HellerOCASI Professional Development Conference
Wednesday April 22, 2009 7:30-8:30 pm
Session Objectives Share information about a new settlement sector
program Review and consult with the settlement sector on
its potential Provide a rationale to share information with
colleagues about LSP and facilitate client referrals
Overview of Presentation
Overview of the context and the role of libraries Newcomer information needs and information
seeking practices Partnership opportunities Overview of LSP (history and current developments)
Overview: Introduction
Review Canadian experience and LSP in particular in
light of overall response of the public library sector to
address the changing constituencies of users
International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
also taking leadership in developing resources,
strategies and professional development opportunities
Strategic Context Numbers of migrants have increased internationally Need for new settlement service delivery models – better
coordination among providers Prevalence of “social inclusion” in government policy in
Canada & UK = removing barriers to full participation in all aspects of society
“The challenges posed by these [conditions] means there is an urgent need for local [governments] and other organisations to think, plan and deliver more collaboratively, and to share good practice more effectively – and they need support to do so.”
Role of Public LibrariesWhere do public libraries fit in? Vital and well established community asset Bring people together in context of community interaction
and often development Provide access to reading, learning, information and
citizenship Support formal and informal skills development Gateways to knowledge and their resources provide for
individual and shared discovery and empowerment. Role as connectors, bringing resources, and people together
Innovation in Public Library Developments
Working Together initiative (2005-2008):
www.librariesincommunities.ca
Community Development Librarians Relationship building and partnerships with community
organizations Identifying and investigating barriers to library use
Research on Immigrants’ Information Practices
What are the information needs, pathways/sources, and barriers to information experienced by immigrants throughout the settlement process?
Report authors: Professor Nadia Caidi, Doctoral students: Danielle Allard and Diane Dechief, University of Toronto, Faculty of Information
Immigrant Information NeedsRecent Immigrant Needs Longer Established
Translation services Pre-migration
information Employment e.g.
job search skills Housing Making connections
in the community (e.g. professional associations, volunteering)
Orientation to
‘Canadian life’
Health Employment Schools for children Political/current
events ESL
courses/materials Transport/maps Identity construction
(e.g. how to position themselves vis-à-vis Canadian society)
Information about culture/religious events
Information Pathways/ Sources of Newcomers:
Family and friends, local and transnational Media sources such as newspapers and the
Internet Organizations such as community centres and
settlement agencies Government
Barriers to Accessing Information for Newcomers:
Language (e.g. fear of speaking English) Suspicion or mistrust of authority Isolation and feeling like an outsider Using children to find information Lack of familiarity with Canadian information
institutions/sources Cultural differences Not knowing how to ask for services
Information PracticesInformation practices = An umbrella term that captures
the complex ways that individuals actively or indirectly
look for information to help them make sense of their lives.
Everyday Life Information seeking (ELIS)
(Savolainen 1995) Habitual, non-rational, multiple goals Newcomers need to establish new patterns and
information sources in a ‘culturally alien information
environment’ (Mehra & Pappajohn 2007)
Information PovertyInformation poverty = Lacking necessary resources
such as adequate social networks and information finding
skills that enable everyday information seeking.
Are new immigrants information poor? Need basic information for survival Limited local social networks Little knowledge of the Canadian information
environment But…typically new immigrants have high levels of
education and often have non-local or transnational
social networks
Benefits of Partnering with Libraries
Offer programs that target newcomers
Community Information & Referral Services
Adult Education & Literacy
Multilingual Collections
Other Resources
Library Programming for Newcomers
1x1 tutoring – ESL, literacy, citizenship help
ESL classes
Computer classes – ESL and other languages
ESL story time for pre-schoolers and parents
orientation sessions on healthcare, job search, how to
obtain a driver’s license
Library Collections for Newcomers
Multilingual collections in first language (books and
audiovisuals) English books that are easy-to-read Newspapers and magazines – foreign and local Dual language materials especially for young people Tools such as bilingual dictionaries
Library Services for Newcomers
Community Information & Referral Services Data bases Internet service and some training on how
to use it Research services and assistance to
support adult education, community
programs, employment efforts (self
employment etc)
Adult Education & Literacy in Libraries
Libraries have a long history of partnering with literacy
agencies Offer 1x1 tutoring integrating citizenship information &
support; New immigrant centers Story time programs develop pre-literacy skills in pre-school
children and also offer adults opportunity to practice English
Libraries Inclusion of Newcomers
How can libraries ensure that their traditional
programming is truly inclusive? Opportunities for communities and libraries to extend
the reach and participation in such library-driven activities such as book reading clubs, local history, etc.
Newcomer involvement in such areas as participating in collection development
Strategic planning and other decision making processes to include newcomers
SummaryThere are numerous well-documented examples of public libraries as providers of services for culturally diverse communities.
Services for approach usually includes: Collections in different languages Internet access enabling library users to keep in touch with
what is happening in other countries. Programs targeted at specific underserved groups in such a
way that they are seen as a separate “add-on” rather than part of core services
Programs often have been over-dependent on the commitment of specific individual members of library staff
The approach adopted has tended to be service-led, ratherthan transformational.
From dream to reality - LSP
Given the potential for settlement sector / public library
partnerships to improve settlement and long term
quality of life of immigrants, what is LSP and how is it
contributing?
Some background informationLSP grew out of the Settlement Workers in Schools initiative.
The Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Program is a very unique partnership model first piloted in 1999 that involves the participation of settlement agencies, school boards and CIC.
The program reaches out to newcomer families by placing settlement workers in elementary and secondary schools. By placing settlement services where all school-aged children must go, we are able to reach a greater number of newcomers than through traditional points of service.
During the summer months when school is out, settlement workers needed to find other places in the community where they could deliver services. The library became a popular spot for SWIS workers.
Libraries saw the benefit of having settlement workers in the library year-round, not just during the summer and thus, LSP was born.
Rationale for LSP
Like SWIS, LSP brings settlement workers to where clients are.
LSP in CIC LSP derives its funds from ISAP A funds.
ISAP A includes the following services: Initial needs assessment Information and orientation Interpretation and translation Referral to appropriate community resources Solution-focused counselling Employment-related services
ISAP A is delivered by over 160 service providing organizations (SPOs) across Ontario – both ethno-specific and multi-ethnic organizations
60% of SPOs are located in Toronto
Over 200,000 clients were served in 2007
Other initiatives that receive funding through ISAP A include: SWIS, ELT, JSW, etc.
LSP Enhances the Settlement Sector’s Service Delivery Options and Reach
Traditionally CIC funded services are available to Permanent Residents Protected Persons Persons whose applications for Permanent Resident status have been
approved in principle Live-in caregivers (ISAP services only) Canadian citizens and refugee claimants are not eligible clients.
However, LSP expands eligibility Co-funding allows for access by non eligible CIC clients. LSP is
considered to be a co-funded project because of the non monetary in-kind contributions the library provides.
Provides another and very public venue to promote and deliver settlement services
LSP History
LSP was first piloted last year in three library systems:
Toronto Public Library (7 branches)
Hamilton Public Library (3 branches + the
bookmobile)
Ottawa Public Library (7 branches)
History of LSP
Based on the initial success of the pilot, LSP is now in expansion mode in Toronto (to 19 branches) and is just getting off the ground in:
Windsor (3 branches) London (4 branches) Kitchener (2 branches) Waterloo (2 branches) Brampton (2 branches) Vaughan (1 branch) Richmond Hill (1 branch) Markham (2 branches)
Languages and Communities of LSP Service
Hamilton SISO
Central
Redhill
Terryberry
Bookmobile
OttawaOttawa Community Immigrant
Services OrganizationMain
OttawaLebanese & Arabic Social
Services AgencyNorth Gloucester
Ottawa Somali Family Association Alta Vista
OttawaLebanese & Arabic Social
Services AgencyCentennial
OttawaLebanese & Arabic Social
Services AgencyGreenboro
OttawaConseil Economique et Social
d'Ottawa CarletonSt Laurent
OttawaConseil Economique et Social
d'Ottawa CarletonOrleans
OttawaOttawa Chinese Communty
Service CentreMain and Nepean Centrepointe
OttawaLebanese & Arabic Social
Services AgencyElmvale
Pilot Communities
City Name of SPO Library Branch
Toronto Catholic Cross Cultural Services Agincourt
Toronto Thorncliffe Neighbourhood OfficeFlemingdon Park
Thorncliffe Park
Toronto YMCA Newcomer Services Toronto Reference
Toronto Kababayan Parkdale
Toronto North York Community House York Woods
Toronto Rexdale Women's Centre Albion
TorontoCentre for Communication & Information Services
Albert Campbell
Bridlewood
Morningside
Toronto CultureLinkEatonville
Mimico
Toronto Rexdale Women's Centre Richview
Toronto Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office
Gerrard/Ashdale
Parliament
Riverdale
TorontoWorking Women Community Centre
Bloor/Gladstone
Toronto YMCA Newcomer Services Centennial
Toronto Culture Link Lillian H. Smith
New CommunitiesBrampton Brampton Multicultural Centre
Chinguacousy
South Fletcher's
Kitchener-Waterloo
K-W Multicultural Centre
Forest Heights (K)
Main (K)
McCormick (W)
Main (W)
London Centre for Life Long Learning & LUSO Beacock
London South London Neighbourhood Centre Jalna
London London Cross Cultural Learner Centre Central
London London Cross Cultural Learner Centre Sherwood
Windsor New Canadians' Centre for Excellence
Central
Forest Glade
Sandwich
York Region Catholic Community Services of York Region
Central (Richmond Hill)
Thornhill Community Centre (Markham)
Maple (Vaughan)
York Region Centre for Communication & Information Services Milliken Mills (Markham)
Summary
Total of 49 branches served by 22 agencies
11 communities participating (3 pilot and 8 new)
each represented by one public library system (11
systems)
Pilot phase consisted of 12 agencies serving 20
branches
Expansion represents a doubling of total numbers
and tripling of the number of communities involved
What Does LSP Do?
One-on-one service
Group programs (information sessions and also
places to facilitate community interaction –
conversation circles, etc)
Outreach (to promote the program and increased
understanding of public libraries and what they offer)
Supports information sharing and progress of two
sectors both committed to information service,
education, and community development
Structure of LSPStructure of LSP (like SWIS, a partnership model of service delivery)(like SWIS, a partnership model of service delivery)
Conclusion
Next steps for LSP include further developing the
program in the current 11 communities
Looking for new programming opportunities (new
activities, new branches and new communities)
Capacity building through training, sharing best
practices, etc.
Evaluating the program
Implications for Settlement Workers
Discussion Points:
Connecting with LSP if your community or agency is involved
in the program
Connecting with libraries if your agency is not involved in LSP
Referrals for information or other library services
Group programs
Outreach
Libraries as partners / advocates for the settlement sector
What you can do
Keep informed www.lsp-peb.ca
Share information about LSP with staff and
settlement sector colleagues
Think about partnering with your local public
library in new ways
Thanks and keep in [email protected]