THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS MULTICULTURAL TOUCHSTONE: Where We Go to Remember and Where We Go to Create Conference on Libraries and Immigration Barcelona, Spain - March 30, 2009 Sandra Ríos Balderrama-Escobar

Touchstone [tuhch-stohn] piedra de toque – noun 1. a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing. 2. a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal. ( Dictionary.com)

[tuhch-stohn]

piedra de toque

– noun 1. a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing. 2. a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal. ( Dictionary.com)

“Touchstone” The place, person, idea, dream that you touch to remember your purpose…to replenish, refresh, to gain perspective about how you want to use your lifeblood…i.e. your energy

The place, person, idea, dream that you touch to remember your purpose…to replenish, refresh, to gain perspective about how you want to use your lifeblood…i.e. your energy

Libraries and Multiculturalism Assist with the transition Respect for the “homeland” Inclusion Center of World Cultures

Assist with the transition

Respect for the “homeland”

Inclusion

Center of World Cultures

Highest Ideals Egalitarianism Accessibility Pluralism Inclusion Synergy

Egalitarianism

Accessibility

Pluralism

Inclusion

Synergy

American Library Association (ALA) Immigrant Rights Whereas, America’s immigrants are a strong and valuable part of the social fabric of this nation; and … Resolved, that ALA opposed any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA or its territories, citizens or otherwise, to use library resources, programs, and services on a national, state, and local levels.” (Adopted by the ALA Council, Wednesday, January 22, 2007, Seattle ,Washington)

Immigrant Rights

Whereas, America’s immigrants are a strong and valuable part of the social fabric of this nation; and …

Resolved, that ALA opposed any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA or its territories, citizens or otherwise, to use library resources, programs, and services on a national, state, and local levels.”

(Adopted by the ALA Council, Wednesday, January 22, 2007, Seattle ,Washington)

Assessments of USA practices WELCOME, STRANGER: Public Libraries Build the Global Village http://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/ULC_WS.pdf THE AMERICAN DREAM STARTS AT YOUR LIBRARY http://www.americandreamtoolkit.org/toolkit/modelsexamples.html U.S. Public Library Services to Latin American Immigrants: A Survey of Information Needs, Barriers to Access, Best Practices and Guidelines for Developing Library Services at a Local Level http://www.webjunction.org/155/articles/content/445210 LIBRARY SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS: A Report on Current Practices http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/G-1112.pdf

WELCOME, STRANGER: Public Libraries Build the Global Village

http://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/ULC_WS.pdf

THE AMERICAN DREAM STARTS AT YOUR LIBRARY

http://www.americandreamtoolkit.org/toolkit/modelsexamples.html

U.S. Public Library Services to Latin American Immigrants: A Survey of Information Needs, Barriers to Access, Best Practices and Guidelines for Developing Library Services at a Local Level

http://www.webjunction.org/155/articles/content/445210

LIBRARY SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS: A Report on Current Practices

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/G-1112.pdf

Remember …and then Create! Clara Budnik S. “What Was Left to Do? Cry? No. Create. Create libraries!” ( Executive Director, Executive Director for Democracy and Development, Chile)

Clara Budnik S. “What Was Left to Do? Cry? No. Create. Create libraries!”

( Executive Director, Executive Director for Democracy and Development, Chile)

Closure The public library is the touchstone place where we must be able to listen to the universal drum, the one that we all share as the center beat of our differences…that drum…this touchstone…Do you hear it? May our ancestors always be connected. Gracias!

The public library is the touchstone place where we must be able to listen to the universal drum, the one that we all share as the center beat of our differences…that drum…this touchstone…Do you hear it?

May our ancestors always be connected.

Gracias!