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 touch!coordinator@ciclsp.ca