Leveraging Community Partnerships to Serve Immigrant And Multilingual Communities

Human migration continues to be a critical issue in many regions of our world. Whether fleeing a threat or moving for economic reasons, oftentimes, newcomers find themselves disconnected from familiar informational landscapes and needing access to resources critical for successful integration in the new community. Public libraries can position themselves as networking and learning spaces where newcomers can connect to local experts and learn skills that help them thrive. Approaching public librarianship as space for newcomer education and networking requires collaboration between public libraries and community organizations, including non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies. Many of these organizations already have programs and services focused on community engagement and outreach but may have not considered libraries as natural partners. Mapping out local assets and conducting some informational interviews might help understand goals of these organizations and find alignment in services that closes gaps and benefits the community. Examples from Language Services team at Arapahoe Libraries, an urban-suburban public district in Colorado, USA, demonstrate how leveraging partnerships can expand capacity of a library organization and grow its programming portfolio. From educational presentations to legal workshops to digital navigation - many programs can be offered more affordably and efficiently in collaboration with others.