Above: Storytime at Home Gardens Library. The Library’s Ana Bekker is designing programs to serve immigrant families around Riverside County.
Culminating a four month research and planning process, the ten librarians who make up the 2024 Library Innovation Lab (LIL) program cohort are now poised to launch the public-facing phase of their work. During the fall season, each participating California public library will implement a special project aimed at engaging local immigrants and providing welcoming and inclusive experiences for them. Drawing on insights developed through background research, interviews, and surveys, and designed in collaboration with individuals and organizations from many walks of life, these new public humanities programs will provide Californians of all backgrounds insight into the cultures, histories, and stories of newcomers, and promote greater connectivity within and between diverse segments of our communities.
Among the projects is Raíces y sueños: celebrando la cultura de los inmigrantes hispanos (Roots and Dreams: Celebrating Hispanic Immigrant Culture), a series of intergenerational programs taking place at various library locations in Santa Barbara that will include a dollmaking workshop, a folk dance lecture and performance, a documentary film screening and discussion, a cultural marketplace, and an exhibit of works by local Latine artists (co-hosted by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art).
Aiming to create a space to welcome newly immigrated Russian and Ukrainian families in the Inland Empire, Home Gardens Library, a branch of Riverside County Library System, will host Peaceful Dreams, a multifaceted project including an installation by an immigrant artist, an interactive puppet performance, a children’s choir concert and a series of wellness activities.
Community Connections: Honoring Samoan and Mexican Culture at Landes will engage the local Mexican and Samoan immigrant populations in the John Landes neighborhood and surrounding Tri-City area of Oceanside through art workshops, visual and oral storytelling sessions, and a culminating celebration that will foster understanding and shared appreciation of the culture and heritage of the two communities.
“It is wonderful to see the incredible cohort members do research and apply empathy to celebrate the immigrant communities through dance, song, storytelling, and more,” said LIL 2024 Mentor Eric Cardoso, Senior Librarian with Long Beach Library. “These programs will provide a security blanket for community members to come together and share about traditions in their heritage, and will highlight the inclusive space that libraries provide for every community member.“
Patty Mallari, Librarian with San Leandro Public Library who also mentors the cohort, echoes Cardoso’s expressed sentiment: “Now, more than ever, California communities need all our support in unifying and connecting members across dividing lines. Public libraries play a unique role in affirming the inclusivity and honoring of immigrant populations. This year’s cohort especially has developed such a tremendous amount of empathy and care in embracing the challenging needs of their communities. We are so excited to see the impact of their events and projects. “
Check our online calendar for upcoming events in your region and visit our LIL webpage for more information about the projects, the participating libraries, and the program.
