Project Welcome – Introduction
Project Welcome began as the IMLS grant-funded project “Project Welcome: Libraries and Community Anchors Planning for Resettlement and Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers” (read below) and now continues as a resource, managed by the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, on information about library and information services for refugees, including events and professional development opportunities by the Mortenson Center and its collaborators.
Project Welcome: Libraries and Community Anchors Planning for Resettlement and Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers <Grant Description>
How can libraries better serve refugees and asylum seekers? The Mortenson Center for International Library Programs has partnered with the American Library Association (ALA) on the IMLS-funded “Project Welcome,” that started as a one-year planning grant (May 2016 – April 2017) that was extended an additional year until April 2018. Project Welcome aims to learn about and articulate ways libraries can address the information needs of refugees and asylum seekers in order to support and empower them in their resettlement and integration process.
We are assessing the information needs and gaps in library services by learning from US and international librarians, international and national governmental agencies, and domestic resettlement and social services to develop recommendations and an action agenda on information resources, services, training, and research needed to support the resettlement and integration of refugees and asylum seekers in the United States. The grant was extended an additional year to focus on this aim within the context of public libraries.
Project Coordinator: Clara M. Chu (cmchu at illinois.edu), Mortenson Center for International Library Program, University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign [with Susan Schnuer, 2016-17]
Project Partners: Michael Dowling (International Relations) and Jody Gray (ODLOS), American Library Association
Funding: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Planning Grant: LG-82-16-0059-16).
Project Welcome – Media Coverage
Dankowski, Terra. “Resources for Resettlement: How libraries can help refugees and asylum seekers adjust to their new country,” American Libraries, February 14, 2017.
Dowling, Michael. (translated by Viviana Quiñones). “« Si j’étais un oiseau, je réunirais mes enfants et volerais loin d’ici »… Aux États-Unis, un sommet autour des actions des bibliothèques auprès des réfugiés,” Takam Tikou. Click <here> for PDF of English Google translate version.
Dowling, Michael. “Project Welcome: Libraries planning for resettlement and integration of refugees,” American Libraries, September 22, 2017. See print version in “International Supplement 2017,” American Libraries; pp. 24-26.
Ford, Anne. “2018 Midwinter Wrap-Up: A diversity of voices in Denver,” American Libraries, February 26, 2018
Halpern, Sue. “Libraries Are a Space Where Everyone Belongs: No wonder the Trump administration is gunning for them,” The Nation, February 23, 2018.
Hitchner, Amy. “Many Flavors of Learning at ALA Midwinter 2018,” Colorado Virtual Library, February 16, 2018.
Morehart, Phil. “A Welcome Place: How libraries can help refugees in their communities,” American Libraries, February 10, 2018.