Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices is a report identifying current practices and suggesting ideas for libraries offering services to immigrants.

INTRODUCTION
Public libraries in the United States have a long history of providing resources and education to immigrants. This tradition may be traced to Andrew Carnegie’s support for public libraries as a place for immigrant self-education, enlightenment, and the study of democracy and English.

This role is especially relevant today as the immigrant population in the United States has grown to a record 33.5 million people, representing approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population. New immigrants are settling outside of traditional gateway cities where there are fewer resources to facilitate integration, such as English language instruction or citizenship preparation courses. Thus, there is an even greater role for public libraries in welcoming and educating immigrants.

This report 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. The report, which provides sample suggestions and strategies, is not a comprehensive guide, as there are likely many other promising approaches for assisting immigrants in libraries nationwide.

The report addresses the following topics:
• Partnerships
• Collections
• Information Services
• Programs and Events
• Outreach
• Planning

The practices and recommendations in this report are the result of a working group convened in October 2004 by the Office of Citizenship, which is part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security. The Office of Citizenship’s mission is to promote instruction and training on citizenship rights and responsibilities and to foster the civic integration of immigrants. The working group included representatives from public libraries across the country, immigrant community-based organizations, and adult educators who work with English language learners (participating organizations are listed in the appendix). Over the course of a day and a half, the group discussed many issues related to helping immigrants integrate into U.S. society, with a special focus on the roles public libraries can play. Their ideas are reflected in this report.

Download Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ...................... 1
Partnerships.................... 1
Collections ................. 2
Information Services ......................... 3
Programs and Events ......................... 3
Outreach ......................... 4
Planning ............................ 5
Conclusion ............................ 6
Photo Credits .............................. 6
Appendix
Working Group Participants ....................... 7
Websites of Libraries Participating in the Working Group............... 7

ABOUT U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a former Immigration and Naturalization Service component, is charged with fundamentally transforming and improving the delivery of immigration and citizenship services.

The Office of Citizenship, within USCIS, demonstrates this new commitment. The Office is mandated by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to promote instruction and training on citizenship rights and responsibilities and to provide immigrants with information and tools necessary to successfully integrate into American civic culture.

The Office’s products and publications provide instruction to immigrants at two key points on their journey towards civic integration: when they first become permanent residents and when they are ready to begin the formal naturalization process.

To learn more, please visit www.uscis.gov.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation.

To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

WEBSITES OF LIBRARIES PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKING GROUP
Austin Public Library http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/i_about.htm
Boulder Public Library http://www.boulder.lib.co.us/special/multicultural/
Chicago Public Library http://chipublib.org/
Hartford Public Library http://www.hplct.org/
Jones Library http://www.joneslibrary.org/
King County Library System http://www.kcls.org/lit/esl.cfm
Minneapolis Public Library http://www.mplib.org/librarylinks.asp
Queens Borough Public Library http://www.queenslibrary.org/

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