Services to New Immigrants
Overview
In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 13%, or over 40 million people, in the U.S. were immigrants, defined as people residing in the U.S. who were not U.S. citizens at birth. This is about the same percentage as when ALA published The Polish Immigrant and His Reading, by Eleanor E. Ledbetter, (ALA, 1924), as part of the series, “Library work with the foreign born.” (We also published similar titles for Greek, Italian, and German immigrants.)
The need for services remains, and today includes supporting community information referral services, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, job search assistance, literacy classes, assistance with gaining citizenship, and, of course, the traditional reading for entertainment and enlightenment.
Since January 2007, the American Library Association (ALA), in partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, has funded 100 libraries in 28 states through American Dream grants. Each library received a onetime grant of $5,000 to add or improve literacy services to adult English language learners and their families. With these grants, the libraries expanded ESL collections, taught classes, hosted conversation circles, trained tutors, increased computer access, build community partnerships, and raised the library’s visibility.
- The American Dream Literacy InitiativeOverview of the American Dream Literacy Initiative, sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the American Library Association (ALA) and its Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS).
ALA Policies and Guidelines
- Guidelines for Outreach to Immigrant PopulationsPrepared by the Guidelines for Outreach to Immigrant Populations Task Force, Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, American Library Association. Approved by the EMIERT Executive Board, December 2015.
- Resolution in Support of Immigrant Rights (2007)States opposition to "any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA or its territories, citizens or otherwise, to use library resources, programs, and services on national, state, and local levels." (PDF)
ALA Initiatives
- Project WelcomeProject Welcome: Libraries and Community Anchors Planning for Resettlement and Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers, an initiative of the University of Illinois' Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, ALA, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
- The American Dream Literacy InitiativeOverview of the American Dream Literacy Initiative, sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the American Library Association (ALA) and its Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS).
Select Resources on Library Services to New Immigrants
- How to Serve the WorldToolkit based on ALA's 2007 analysis of library services and programs developed for non-English speakers, including effectiveness of services, barriers to library use, most frequently used services and most success library programs by language served
- Libraries RespondCollection of resources for librarians serving immigrant populations.
- Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current PracticesReport from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, distributed by IMLS, identifies current practices in library services for immigrants and offers ideas for libraries that wish to provide programs and services for immigrants living in their communities.(PDF, 2006)
- PLA Service Response Workbook: Welcome to the United States: Services for New ImmigrantsOnline workbook offered on the Moodle e-learning platform with tools to assess current services and to identify ways to expand services.
- Welcome Stranger: Public Libraries Build the Global VillageSurvey report from the Urban Libraries Council offering data on the ways in which urban public libraries facilitate the transition of immigrants into American life. (PDF, 2007)
- Working With and For Refugee and Immigrant TeensYALSA Blog post by Jessica Snow, 2016
Sources for Readers Advisory
- Core Collection: Picture-Book Refugee and Immigraion StoriesBooklist feature article, by Sarah Hunter; February 1, 2017.
- American Dream: Print and digital resourcesAnnotated list, in PDF, developed by 34 public libraries who received American Dream grants in the first round of grants.
- American Dream: LibraryThing collectionThrough four rounds of the American Dream initiative, grantee libraries have contributed to a comprehensive collection of print and digital resources for adult English language learners.
- Contemporary Immigrant Experiences in Children's BooksPrepared by the EMIERT Children's Committee, June 2006 (PDF)
- New Immigrant Resources (2006)This list of resources was compiled by the ALSC Library Service to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers Committee (ca. 2006) and adapted to WorldCat list in 2013, without updating. Annotations from the Committee.
