A north London library network has received national recognition for its work supporting refugees.
The Libraries of Sanctuary Award, which recognises local services going ‘above and beyond’ to create trusted community spaces, was presented to Camden Council on 13 June.
These spaces support refugees and asylum seekers across the borough by providing access to learning opportunities, information, community groups and cultural events.
Councillor Sabrina Francis said: “Being recognised with the Libraries of Sanctuary award reflects the values we hold as a community.
“Camden has always been a borough that stands proudly on the side of compassion and inclusion.
“Our libraries are at the heart of this work.”
Presented by City of Sanctuary UK, the award marked an early start to Refugee Week for the borough.
From 15 to 21 June, Camden’s libraries and other community spaces hosted a vibrant programme of free exhibitions, workshops and cultural activities.
Among the organisations taking part was the Abbey Community Centre, a Kilburn-based service and partner in Camden Council’s borough-wide sanctuary project.
The centre is also currently standing in for Kilburn Library while the branch is refurbished.
A spokesperson for Abbey said: “Through our partnership hosting the Kilburn Library pop-up, we’ve seen how accessible library services can make a real difference.”
They explained that English language resources, children’s activities and knowledgeable library staff were particularly valuable in helping people settle into new communities.
The spokesperson added: “Libraries are far more than places to borrow books.”
Libraries are also vital for digital inclusion, according to New Horizons Youth Centre, a King’s Cross-based charity which supports refugees and asylum seekers through its wider work with young people experiencing homelessness.
Computers, printers, phone chargers and Wi-Fi help people navigate complex housing and immigration systems, the charity said.
It also pointed to the scarcity of public spaces where people are not expected to buy something, making libraries invaluable for anyone experiencing housing insecurity, particularly as places to escape more extreme temperatures.
A spokesperson for New Horizons said: “We signpost young people to libraries when our day centre is closed, for warm spaces in the winter and cool spaces in the summer.”
The youth centre is located a six-minute walk from Camden’s Pancras Square Library.
Pancras Square Library is home to a community café, a social hub serving affordable meals and offering work experience for young people not in education, employment or training.
It is also currently running a reading and conversation group for adults looking to improve their English.
Services such as these are part of why a spokesperson for City of Sanctuary UK described Camden’s libraries as a strong example of good practice for the rest of the sector.
They said: “Their work demonstrates how libraries can lead the way in building community, dignity and belonging.”
Featured image: Swiss Cottage Library, by Jim Osley, cropped. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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