LWB@UBC Speaker: Annette de Faveri

When planning and implementing public library services, it is crucial to develop community relationships and encourage collaboration, according to Annette DeFaveri, the  Manager of Children’s and Youth Services at Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch. DeFaveri spoke about library outreach at a talk hosted by the University of British Columbia chapter of Librarians Without Borders on March 17, 2010.

Specifically, she detailed her involvement as a coordinator for the Working Together initiative, which was a $4 million, four-year federal project funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada, and included four library systems – Halifax, Toronto Regina and Vancouver.

During the project, Working Together’s coordinators found a need for public libraries to approach outreach from a community development perspective, also known as a “community led library” model, she said.

“We want to bring people into the library and we want to do it based on their perspective,” she said. “The project said, ‘We need to spend time, energy and effort to go out and talk to people in our community, and do it in a way where we can document it so other librarians would be able to draw on our experience.”

Working Together participants found that many community members chose not to come to their public library because they didn’t think libraries had anything to offer them, and because they didn’t feel welcomed.  The solution? De Faveri said public librarians need to develop long term, meaningful relationships with community members and groups to find out how the library can serve them best.

The next step is to work with these community members and groups to develop programs and services that meet their needs. De Faveri gave the example of working with members of an at-risk youth program to plan and host an art show at the local library. The event was a success, and it was the first time many of the participants had ever been to a library, she said.

While Working Together is now completed, DeFaveri said Vancouver Public Library has yet to adopt the language of the project’s findings and recommendations into their policy documents. However, she said each library system is committed to continue the work of community led library outreach, and all are still in contact with each other.

For more information about Working Together, and/or to download the Community Led Libraries Tool Kit, visit www.librariesincommunities.ca.

~ Report by Heidi Schiller, LWB@UBC member and “ex-journalist.”

UWO Student Committee on Twitter!

The UWO Student Committee of Librarians Without Borders can now be found and followed on Twitter.

http://twitter.com/UWOLWB

This is a great opportunity to support and learn more about the activities of one of our active and high-energy student committees.

Librarians Without Borders also has a Twitter account and can be found at http://twitter.com/LWB_Online.

McGill Student Committee leaves for Guatemala in one month

An update from the McGill Student Committee of Librarians Without Borders.

We are leaving for Guatemala in one month! I know we’ve all been busy both with preparations for the trip and end of the school year mayhem…

LWB@UBC delivers semester’s donation to Take a Stand for Kids; contribution matched by Libros Para Ninos

On March 7, 2010, LWB@UBC co-chair Samantha Sinanan met with TASK founder Carroll Airey to hand over $355 in funds raised for TASK last semester.

Carroll had just returned from a month long trip to Nicaragua and was very thankful for LWB@UBC’s hard work. She intends to use the funds to build the children’s library collection at TASK’s educational centre in Santa Rosa del Penon.

During her travels, Carroll encountered a book program called Libros Para Ninos (www.lpninos.com), which will match funds for books purchased by educational organizations. Carroll intends to purchase material for the children’s library from Libros Para Ninos, so, in fact, the $355 raised by LWB@UBC will become $720, which will go a long way towards promoting literacy among the children of Santa Rosa.

Letter on behalf of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano written by the Student Committee of Librarians Without Borders at the University of British Columbia

The Student Committee of Librarians Without Borders at the University of British Columbia have drafted  a letter on behalf of Leocadio Juracan, leader of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA). LWB@UBC relies on coffee produced by the CCDA to raise funds for community development projects.

The members of the Student Committee of Librarians Without Borders at the University of British Columbia (LWB@UBC), write this letter with great concern regarding the most recent attacks against the Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA), in particular the robbery of over 18,000 pounds of green coffee (café pergamino) and letters that have threatened the physical integrity of Leocadio Juracán, the National Coordinator of the CCDA and his family.

The full letter can be viewed at the LWB@UBC website.

UWO Event: Beverley Bressette and Patty Lawlor on Native Public Libraries: March 2

March 2, 2010, 4:30 pm
NCB 295

Beverly Bressette and Patty Lawlor will speak on issues facing Native public libraries in Ontario.

For more information please contact lwbatuwo@gmail.com

U of Toronto Student Committee Meeting: 4 March

The next meeting of the University of Toronto LWB Student Committee will be on 4 March at 4 pm in the Inforum. All are welcome.

Contact Jessica Rovito at jessica.rovito@gmail.com for more information.