ESP Building Sanctuary consultation exercise with the public on building a library of sanctuary. Borough, 2026).
with joining, and targeted activities.
Libraries have also been demonstrating this recently by taking part in the Warm Welcome Spaces initiative, for exam- ple: “As soon as I walked into East Ham Library, I was surrounded by sound: chil- dren’s laughter drifting from a school class learning about new books; music playing softly at the back of the room where a chair aerobics class was underway; and the cheerful chatter of staff laughing with ladies gathered for knit and natter. On a cold January morning, it wasn’t just the warmth of the building that struck me, but the warmth of the atmosphere itself.” (Warm Welcome Campaign, 2026) In terms of developing a Library of Sanc- tuary, the active welcome can include, for example:
l Making sustained efforts to bring refugee and migrant communities into the library;
l displaying a City of Sanctuary welcome sticker in a window at the entrance of the library and/or a welcome sign in multiple languages;
l creating a dual-language library guide;
l ensuring that resources relevant to indi- vidual needs, cultures, age and experience are available;
l organising tours of the library and help 22 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
As one local community organisation wrote recently: “[The] Libraries have been wonderful partners to work with. Not only are they supportive of our work, but – more importantly – they are flexible and adaptable, ensuring the libraries remain inclusive and open to all.
“They support both families and individ- ual centre members to register with the library, removing barriers and making the process as simple as possible. They work hard to source books in different languages and run children’s workshops so that fami- lies seeking sanctuary can fully benefit from everything the library service has to offer. “I cannot speak highly enough of [the
Library Service]. It is a pleasure to work with such a fantastic partner – one that opens its doors and actively helps our centre mem- bers integrate into life [here].”
Communication
It is vital, if libraries are to be really welcoming, that they consult regularly with people seeking sanctuary and other new arrivals; provide volunteering and training opportunities for them; and encourage them to have their say about the services the library offers them. As I often do, I returned to a book that made
a huge impact on me as a young librarian (Brown, 1971) – as usual, Eleanor F. Brown didn’t disappoint: “Library staff members must be willing to listen, learn, and adjust attitudes, programs, and materials selection policies […]. Effective two-way communica- tion must be established by the library with inner-city residents […]. Library planning must be made with the people involved, not for them.” (Brown, 1971, p. 7)
Bringing communities together Again, many public libraries have always done this – for example, having people from across a community visit to attend a local history exhibition or event – but are now increasingly aware of the importance of such activities and their potential to help create community cohesion. Many people do not mix widely with other peo- ple in their area, but visiting a library does give an opportunity, especially through, for example, volunteering and/or taking part in library-based activities. A local Forum for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum described their experience with the Library Service very positively: “Over the years, the library has provided us with free access to community rooms for our monthly meetings, creating a safe and inclusive environment for people seeking asylum and refugees to come together,
April-May 2026
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