Welcome,Stranger PUBLIC LIBRARIES BUILD THE GLOBAL VILLAGE Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section, IFLA – Vancouver, BC Martin Gomez, President & CEO Urban Libraries Council

Urban Libraries Council “Strengthening the public library as an essential part of urban life”

Welcome, Stranger U.S. immigration - context Key findings from Welcome, Stranger

Welcome, Stranger Sources & Credits –Pew Charitable Trusts –Center for Migration Studies, Joseph Chamie –Brookings Institution, Aubrey Singer –Migration Policy Institute, Brian Ray –ULC Member Libraries –Rick Ashton & Danielle Milam

Welcome, Stranger “Projections offer a starting point for understanding.” »Brian Ray, Migrant Policy Institute

Welcome, Stranger World Population Growth and Migration Patterns Currently 2.5 million people migrate world-wide 6,700,000,000 people in the world 2050 Projections 9,000,000,000 by 2050

International Migration Flows

Welcome, Stranger U.S. Immigration (2005) 38 million foreign born (1 in 8 or 12%) The highest since 1910 (14.7%) 35% naturalized; 35% legal non-residents; 31% unauthorized migrants 650,000 are naturalized annually

Welcome, Stranger Projected U.S. Population Growth →By 2050 – 435,000,000 82% will be the result of immigration 67,000,000 will be immigrants (50,000,000 will be children of immigrants) 29% (vs.14%) of the U.S. population will be Hispanic

Welcome, Stranger “Established central cities may have depth of experience in working with diverse populations but immigration is forcing suburbs to catch up.” »Brian Ray, Migration Policy Institute

Welcome, Stranger U.S. Immigrant Settlement Patterns Between 1900 – 2000 immigration grew 54.8% in the 100 largest metro areas 1910 – 7.1% settled in suburbs 21.2% settled in central cities % settled in suburbs 30.3% settled in central cities

Welcome, Stranger “What’s happening now is that immigrants are showing up in many more communities all across the country than they have ever been in.” »Aubrey Singer, Brookings Institution

Welcome, Stranger Gateway Cities in the U.S. 1.Continuous gateways 2.Former gateways 3.Post WW2 gateways 4.Emerging gateways 5.Re-emerging gateways 6.Pre-emerging gateways

Welcome, Stranger U.S. Public Library Strategies 1.Understand local immigration dynamics 2.Bring sensitivity to service delivery 3.Build English-language capacity 4.Create connections to local institutions 5.Encourage civic engagement

Welcome, Stranger Understand (and act) on local immigration dynamics 1.Ability to track local demographic trends 2.Knowledge of neighborhood activities 3.Ability to dig deeper in order to assess need 4.Systemic tracking and planning

Welcome, Stranger Bring sensitivity to service delivery 1.Information, signage and website adaptions 2.Multi-language collections and collection marketing 3.Innovative outreach 4.Multi-language and multi-cultural programs 5.Multi-lingual and multi-cultural staff 6.Build relationships 7.Service planning and funding

Welcome, Stranger Build English language capacity 1.ESL classes and collections 2.Early literacy, family literacy and school readiness

Welcome, Stranger Create connections to local institutions 1.Workforce and business development 2.Health services 3.School engagement

Welcome, Stranger Encourage civic engagement/participation 1.Expand community awareness and understanding of immigrant issues 2.Encourage participation in civic activities

Welcome, Stranger “We want the library to be the place where cultures converge, where people really enter into the democratic process, follow and participate in elections, have their voices heard, and get involved in shaping their communities through civic engagement.” »Louise Blalock, Hartford Public Library (Connecticut)

Welcome, Stranger Building the global village Social policy requires strong leadership Economics influence public attitude/perceptions about the immigrant community Libraries are perceived as safe, neutral places that transcend political controversy

Welcome, Stranger