"ONE WORLD ONE LIBRARY NETWORK" Working Internationally for Libraries Conference 2021 June 25, 2021 CILIP Working Internationally for Libraries Conference was a one-day virtual event supported by Arts Council England, in partnership with Libraries Connected, British Library, British Council, Carnegie UK Trust, CILIP International Libraries & Information Group, and CILIP Public & Mobile Libraries Group. The 2021 Conference explored ways of connecting with library services and sector professionals from across the world to inspire and inform local library services. Speakers from a diverse range of regions – UK, Europe, Canada, Africa, and the Middle East - shared best practices, new ideas, and successful examples of international working projects. SESSION DESCRIPTION: Toronto is a very multicultural city and has a long history of welcoming newcomers to settle in the city. This session explores the ways in which Toronto Public Library helps newcomers integrate into Canadian society with particular focus on the arrival of Syrian refugees in recent years. Recordings of the sessions are available here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8656926

1. welcoming newcomers
Vickery Bowles, City Librarian
June25, 2021

2. tpl background
• 100 branches + online services
• Actively collect materials in 40
languages; holdings in 100
• 18 million visitors; 31 million
online (pre-pandemic)
• Newcomers often visit TPL
within days of arrival in
Canada
2

3. Canadian context
• Canada has one of the highest
immigration rates per capita
in the world.
• Between 2015-2016 25,000
Syrian refugees were airlifted
to Canada
3

4. Canadian context
• The legacy of and reconciliation with
Indigenous Peoples in Canada
• Priority and urgency of anti-hate and
equity & inclusion initiatives
4

5. • Toronto population
comprised of over 230
ethnic origins
• Immigrants make up
49% of Toronto’s
population
Toronto context
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6. 6

7. • Settlement
• Language acquisition
• Support for education
• Employment and skills
upgrading
• Belonging and engagement
broad range of services
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8. settlement workers
in branches
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9. importance of collections
Finding books, music, movies and news in a
home language
• helps newcomers integrate into Canadian
society
• makes them feel more at home in Canada
Literacy in any language supports overall
literacy
• Important for children to see reading modeled
at home regardless of the language being read
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10. programs, book clubs
and more
• Book groups
• Book clubs in other languages
• Online Book Buzz
• Programs in other languages such
as digital literacy courses, public
health topics
• Citizenship classes, practice tests,
ceremonies
• New to Canada blog
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11. • Email
• Reading newspapers
• Resume writing
• 2000+ public computers
• All locations with WIFI
• High speed Internet access
• Word processing, spreadsheet
and presentation software
• Public training offered
access to technology
11

12. 12
welcoming Syrian
refugees

13. 13
welcoming Syrian
refugees

14. Orientation sessions
Pre-arrival support
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welcoming Syrian
refugees

15. Communication
15
welcoming Syrian
refugees

16. Armenian &
Arabic Collections
16
welcoming Syrian
refugees

17. Outreach and
programming
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welcoming Syrian
refugees

18. Making
connections
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welcoming Syrian
refugees

19. 19
Exploring Toronto
19
welcoming Syrian
refugees

20. voices of newcomers
It has been a year away from my home
but Toronto Library has kept me close
to the music, culture and ethnicity of
my country….
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I cannot speak good English. But let me tell
you one thing – Toronto Public Library
means A LOT to us. I am a new immigrant
and I cannot live here easily if we do not have
the library service like this….
“
”
“
”

21. 21
thank you