Libraries and Sanctuary

John Vincent has worked in the public sector since the 1960s, primarily for Hertfordshire, Lambeth and Enfield public library services. In 1997, he was invited to become part of the team that produced the UK’s first review of public libraries and social exclusion (from which The Network, which he now coordinates, originated). John runs courses and lectures, writes, produces regular newsletters and ebulletins, and lobbies for greater awareness of the role that libraries, archives, museums, and the cultural and heritage sector play in contributing to social justice. He is particularly interested in supporting the work that libraries do with young people in care, with LGBTQ+ people, and with people seeking sanctuary and other ‘new arrivals’ to the UK.

Introduction

Definitions and scope of the book: when we talk about “refugees and other new arrivals”, who exactly do we mean?

What has been the response in the UK?

What does any of this have to do with libraries?

Libraries’ responses in the UK – historical background

What barriers are there to the take-up of library services by new arrivals? And how can we begin to dismantle these?

How are libraries responding today? And what more can we do? Some practical ideas …

And what can we learn from elsewhere?

Conclusions

Appendix 1: Main countries of origin of people seeking asylum

Appendix 2: Immigration status

Appendix 3: A note on funding

Appendix 4: A brief look at the supply of library materials

Appendix 5: Outline for a course, “Working with new arrivals”

Appendix 6: Some sources of information about new arrivals locally and regionally

Appendix 7: Effective communications

Appendix 8: Community cohesion