INTERVIEW
Libraries and sanctuary
John Vincent has been actively tackling social exclusion in libraries and other cultural and heritage organisations through The Net- work (
www.seapn.org.uk) and the Libraries of Sanctuary project, that evolved from the Cities of Sanctuary. Here he discusses his new Facet book, Libraries and Sanctuary, and why all libraries should be looking at how they can get involved.
InfoPro: For anyone who doesn’t know, can you explain the concept of Cities of Sanctuary and how Libraries of Sanctuary evolved from that?
John: The City of Sanctuary movement started in Sheffield in 2005, and, in Septem- ber 2007, Sheffield became the UK’s first City of Sanctuary.
“[…] City of Sanctuary started with the vision that the UK should be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.” 1
The movement is now UK-wide, with City of Sanctuary UK being the umbrella organisation whose “mission is to provide coordination and development support for networks of community groups supporting people seeking sanctuary, local authori- ties, Sanctuary Ambassadors, mainstream organisations engaged in Streams of Sanc- tuary and Sanctuary Awards programmes that are working towards our vision.” 2 As noted above, there are “Streams” of Sanc- tuary, with examples of the different sectors involved being local authorities, schools, universities, arts, health – and libraries. In 2017, Thimblemill Library in Sandwell, West Midlands, became the first public library in the UK to be awarded Library of Sanctuary status. The Award recognised their work in the local community, includ-
30 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
Rob Green (
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk) is Editor, Information Professional.
ing provision to support refugees and other new arrivals.3
The number of Libraries of Sanctuary has grown, and now includes Brighton & Hove; Kirklees; Kittiwake Trust Multilingual Library (Newcastle); Newcastle; Manches- ter; Oldham; Sefton; Southampton … and more in the pipeline.
Can you talk us through the many reasons that libraries are the perfect fit as places of sanctuary and safe spaces for all?
At the moment, almost all the recognised Libraries of Sanctuary are public librar- ies – but that does not need to be the case! All kinds of library and information service should provide a welcome to people visit-
December 2022
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