An International Analysis of Library Relief StrategiesERIN SHORES

Intro

What are ‘Emergency Situations’ for libraries? Collections care vs. community care

Paper discusses: How libraries around the world have responded to emergency

situations Specific relief efforts undertaken Strengths and areas for improvement

Guiding principles for creating relief programs and services.

Sweden

Library services for immigrants divided by Library Level Local, Regional, Academic

Three-phase immigrant adaptation model Honeymoon, Disappointment, Balancing

Limited study, congruency incomplete Strengths

Specific, in-depth focus Multiple-institution systems

“The gate to understanding: Swedish libraries and immigrants”, Yelena Jönsson‐Lanevsk (2005).

Norway“Trust and the role of the public library in the integration of

refugees: The case of a Northern Norwegian city”, Vårheim (2014).

Can library programs increase immigrants’ trust in their new communities? Specialized trust Generalized

trust

Libraries can generate generalized trust, but…

… that generalized trust decreased sharply when students graduated.

Strengths Libraries positively effect

refugees’ quality of life Point of interaction between

natives and non-natives

Zambia“Information Provision in Emergency Settings: The Experience of Refugee Communities in Zambia”, Kanyengo & Kanyengo (2011).

Info management practices in refugee camps Where has information been exchanged or disseminated?

Innovative forms of library services: Peer education Pamphlets, posters, and Chitenge cloth Theatre, drama, video vs. workshops Water/food distribution points

Strengths Libraries’ goals are to make info accessible, and, in some cases, that means acting less like

a traditional library. Partnerships distribute workload

Potential conflicts of interest?

The Librarians of Fukushima, Suzuki & Miura (2014).

Japan

Great East Japan Earthquake 2011

Flexibility Municipal employee vs. librarian Childcare Published newspapers

Strengths: Roles librarians can assume are varied

Circulation modifications Library = school Pop-up Libraries

Donations Pros Cons

United States2015 Gale/LJ Library of the Year: Ferguson Municipal Public Library, MO, Courage in Crisis, Barry III (2015).

Fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, 2014

Stayed open Ad-hoc school Shows, crafts, activities to distract

and alleviate stress

Emotional Healing ‘Healing Kits’ ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!’ Art

Exhibit

Business Recovery

Donations

Strengths: Achievements despite limited funds, staff, and equipment.

Participating in relief efforts comes back to you positively. Creates a sense of normalcy in moments of

uncertainty.

Current Efforts:

Further research needed Especially in terms of original data collection

Project Welcome One-year planning grant between the Mortenson Center and ALA Address information needs of refugees and asylum seekers to help

with resettlement and integration process More information is available online:

https://publish.Illinois.edu/projectwelcome/

Guiding Principles

Communication.

Partnerships.

Commitment to Language and Culture.

Thank you!

Questions?