How can libraries create an environment of welcoming and belonging for immigrants, refugees, and new Canadians? In the northeastern US, the touring Welcoming Library (
https://www.welcominglibrary.org/) is being used to create conversations about immigration and community. Those conversations, both planned and spontaneous, are driven by the project’s new arrival picture book collection and embedded discussion questions. Whether it is an adult encountering the pop-up display and experiencing a 10-minute cultural immersion through a book, or a child hearing a picture book read aloud, the Welcoming Library allows patrons from the resident community to meet immigrant families on the page, discover commonalities, increase empathy, and reduce inter-group anxiety. New Arrivals, seeing their experiences represented in the featured books and companion programming, gain a sense of belonging and crucial validation. This session will review the components and impact of the I'm Your Neighbor Books' Welcoming Library and share the growing movement to identify immigration and new citizen books as a cultural genre.
