Theme: Welcoming Immigrants at America’s Public Libraries
Program Purpose
Immigrants and other newcomers form a significant part of the U.S. population. From 2005 to 2022, the U.S. immigrant population grew by almost 30%, reaching 46 million, or 13.9% of the total population. California, the most populous state, has over 10 million immigrants, making up nearly a quarter of the state population. One in two California children has at least one immigrant parent. Public libraries have long been crucial in welcoming newcomers, offering citizenship classes, English instruction, and other services. The American Library Association's 2019 white paper recommended including new Americans in library decisions. ALA cites an urgent need to build connection between immigrants and local communities in America.
The Library Innovation Lab welcomes immigrants America’s public libraries. Public events at the libraries help them express and share their experiences, stories, traditions, values, dreams, and hopes for the future, and deepen their connection to their families and communities. By providing opportunities for all community members to develop greater understanding of what it means to make a new life and a new home in a new place, humanities programs build bridges between new and long-term residents and foster more inclusive communities.
In addition to engaging immigrants, California Humanities and its partner Califa also hope to reach and interest all Americans in learning more about their neighbors through these programs.
Program Overview
LIL will support a cohort of 10 public library professionals as they plan, implement and assess a small scale, short-term public humanities project between February and December. Working in a collaborative learning environment that will include virtual group meetings as well as individualized advising, cohort participants will acquire new skills and knowledge about program development and project management, build confidence and develop capacity to work effectively with immigrants and other desired audiences. Participants will exercise creativity and imagination through experimenting with new programming approaches. This process of learning and discovery will be facilitated by library and humanities field experts, including peer mentors who are program alumni. Grant funds will provide material support for planning and programming activities.
Library Innovation Lab
Theme: Welcoming Immigrants at America’s Public Libraries
Program Purpose
Immigrants and other newcomers form a significant part of the U.S. population. From 2005 to 2022, the U.S. immigrant population grew by almost 30%, reaching 46 million, or 13.9% of the total population. California, the most populous state, has over 10 million immigrants, making up nearly a quarter of the state population. One in two California children has at least one immigrant parent. Public libraries have long been crucial in welcoming newcomers, offering citizenship classes, English instruction, and other services. The American Library Association's 2019 white paper recommended including new Americans in library decisions. ALA cites an urgent need to build connection between immigrants and local communities in America.
The Library Innovation Lab welcomes immigrants America’s public libraries. Public events at the libraries help them express and share their experiences, stories, traditions, values, dreams, and hopes for the future, and deepen their connection to their families and communities. By providing opportunities for all community members to develop greater understanding of what it means to make a new life and a new home in a new place, humanities programs build bridges between new and long-term residents and foster more inclusive communities.
In addition to engaging immigrants, California Humanities and its partner Califa also hope to reach and interest all Americans in learning more about their neighbors through these programs.
Program Overview
LIL will support a cohort of 10 public library professionals as they plan, implement and assess a small scale, short-term public humanities project between February and December. Working in a collaborative learning environment that will include virtual group meetings as well as individualized advising, cohort participants will acquire new skills and knowledge about program development and project management, build confidence and develop capacity to work effectively with immigrants and other desired audiences. Participants will exercise creativity and imagination through experimenting with new programming approaches. This process of learning and discovery will be facilitated by library and humanities field experts, including peer mentors who are program alumni. Grant funds will provide material support for planning and programming activities.