Communication, novembre 2011

1. Raphaëlle Bats, Thomas Chaimbault Communication, novembre 2011

2. Contents • Definitions • Refugees needs and libraries • Some issues and how to face them

4. 1. Definitions1.1. What does it means being a refugee ? • The 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol [en - fr] • The 1974 Organisation of African Unity convention governing the specific aspects of refugees problems in Africa [en]

5. 1. Definitions1.1. What does it means being a refugee ? • "If you look high and law, immigrants [...] there is no doubt that they constitute a single population. In other words, all immigrants, not only look alike, but always arrive on our soil simultaneously, by air, by land or by boat, with identical intentions escape poverty ravaging their country. “ • Smaïn Laacher (Source : Lola Mirabail, 2015) • Or do they ?

6. 1. Definitions1.2. Where do they live ? 50,000 dedicated places for asylum seekers (in CADA or in emergency accommodation facilities) Source

7. 1. Definitions1.2. Where do they live ? • Camps : an emergency solution • Transit camps • Movement restricted • Managed by organizations • Source: Thibault Keromnes, 2015 • What about Calais’s « Jungle »?

8. 1. Definitions1.3. To be recognized as a refugee (in France) ? Préfecture OFII OFPRA Refugee status

10. 2.Refugees needs and libraries2.1. Pratical needs • Practical needs : • Charging mobiles, laptops • Using the bathrooms • Using the electrical outlets • Ex : Calais PL

11. 2.Refugees needs and libraries2.2. internet needs • Internet connection : • do procedures in the host country, • do research on the country which was left • communicate with their family • Ex : Montreuil PL

12. 2. Refugees needs and libraries2.3. cultural needs • Cultural needs: • Understand the host country • Discover the culture of the host country • Discover the political culture of the host country • Discover their own culture. • Ex : Florennes

13. 2. Refugees needs and libraries2.3. cultural needs

14. 2. Refugees needs and libraries2.3. educational needs • Educational needs • Learning the language of the host country • Accompany children • Do not lose the knowledge and skills of their country of origin. • Ex : Duisburg PL “German lesson in the library”

16. 2. Refugees needs and libraries2.4. Leisure needs How to spend time in camps ? Finding resources in their own languages Ex : Nancy ; Windsor PL Nat. Lib. of Norway

17. Keeping track of exile Telling what they get throught Create a new memorial identity, which is in exile and not in the country. Going through the trauma of exile Ex : University of East London 2. Refugees needs and libraries2.4. Remembrance needs

19. 3. Some issues and how to face them3.1. Systemic barriers • Loweringsystemicbarriers • Differentlibrary culture • Administrative difficulties • Solutions ? • Re-createspaces as welcoming, inclusive places • Reviewprocedures to ensurethatthey are welcoming and do not place barriers in the way of refugeesengagingwithour services (egjoiningprocedures, bookings, access)

20. Free library cards Oostande PL : looking where refugees are in library and put resources near them, changing spaces

21. 3. Some issues and how to face them3.2. Refugees and usual patrons . • Cohabitationwith usual patrons • Differents way of life (more noisy…) ; • Prejudices: poor and uneducated ; • Terrorism-related concerns. • Solutions ? • Importance of communication • offer spaces for dialogue and reflection that can support work towards community cohesion

22. Exemple Downtown discovery trails in Florennes

24. Using historical information to reflect on today

25. 3. Some issues and how to face them3.3. What about the city commitment ? • Commitment of the city • Specific funds for Refugees • Ideas box • Recognition of the commitment of the library staff • Solution ? • Work with other city service • Support library statements (Danish, German, Baltic states library associations…)

29. 3. Some issues and how to face them3.3. Partnerships • Relations with the centers, associations • in France, difficulties with CADA (ex: no room left ; do not know how to help librarians because they’re only used to administrative procedures) • Solutions ? • Librarians training: the reception of refugees, knowing the useful associations, languages, etc ...

31. BBF Dossier. (2015). Liberté Chérie. Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France, (5). http://bbf.enssib.fr/sommaire/2015/5 Keromnes, T. (2015). Le rôle des bibliothèques et de la documentation dans les camps de réfugiés en Afrique et au Moyen-Orient. Villeurbanne, Rhône, France. Tassin, É. (2012). Le maléfice de la vie à plusieurs: la politique est-elle vouée à l’échec ? Montrouge, France: Bayard. Tassin, É. (2015, septembre 25). Une journée sur les routes de l’exil. Les nouveaux chemins de la connaissance. France Culture.

32. List of activities • "Bibliotheksportal", (the Library Portal) - which is a cooperative information service offered by the Network of Excellence for Libraries - has produced a list of activities in Germany • IFLA : Responding! Public libraries and refugees, • US Library Journal : "Public Libraries Support Refugees", on 29 Dec 2015 (which summarised recent developments in the US and Canada). • Exemples in UK : CILIP and The Network’s article How can the cultural sector support refugees? • October 2015 issue of the EBLIDA Newsletter includes a round-up of work being undertaken in libraries in Europe

34. Instructions Form three groups to work on different cases:Case 1: You are responsible for a library in a small town that has rarely seen immigrants and the mayor informs you that the city will host a group of Sudanese refugees.Case 2: You are the director of a library in a big city. You’re already working with many cultural partners while you learn that the city will host a large group of Syrian refugees.Case 3: Your city hosts not only refugees but hosts a reception center for refugees.As director of the local library, what actions do you implement in your organization?

35. Raphaëlle Bats, Thomas Chaimbault contacts Communication, novembre 2011