The library in a multilingual society: Good practices and ideas for libraries on how to make their services more inclusive to immigrants

About the project

In the spring of 2024, The library of Kópavogur received a grant from Nordplus for a development and collaboration project between the Library of Kópavogur, Hässleholm City Library in Sweden and Central Library of Lääne County in Estonia. The project aimed at finding sustainable ways to better service the ever-growing international community in our societies. The three libraries visited each other and learned from each other while developing new and exciting projects, each in their own library. Here below you will find a list of ideas, and manuals for good practices that we developed that you can try out in your library.

Here below you will find a list of ideas, and manuals for good practices that we developed that you can try out in your library.

International meet ups

One of the things we developed were weakly international meetups at the library. Here are ideas you can try out in your library for such meetups. We emphasized activities that we could do together that did not need language. We did all of these with both children and grownups, as some participants came with their kids, and sometimes the adults came alone, but all joined in.

Sensory story telling

One of the things we developed were regular sensory story telling for children age 0-5 at the library. We noticed that by using musical instruments, songs, puppets, lights, colours etc. to communicate to stories to the children it became easier for children who are new to the language, younger children and neurodivergent children to focus on the story and enjoy the story hour. Here you will find ideas for sensory story telling that you can try out in your library

Postcard

„Welcome to the library“ postcard.

We got an artist to develop a welcome postcard that would show visually the different things you can do in the library and the word welcome written in many different languages. You are welcome to print them out and hand them out in your own library.

Four postcards on A4 paper size for printing and cutting yourself.
Postcard on A6 paper size to send to professional printers.

Dialogues and interviews with the target groups

One of the things we discovered during our project was the importance of co-creating the programmes with the target groups. We learned that it is very important to start with a dialogue with the immigrant groups on their needs and wants and create the programmes in collaboration with them and based on those needs and wants. Here is a manual for a semi-structured interviews and dialogues that you can use to create programmes with immigrants at your library.

Chat and play (Tala og spila)

We explored ways to help immigrants practice the local language in low‑pressure, enjoyable environments. We organized weekly language club built around board games, card games and playful communication that was hosted by a language teacher.

It is a safe, friendly and informal space where participants practice speaking without fear of making mistakes, learn new vocabulary through action, and connect with others in the community.

Democracy Workshop

How a library can host step-by-step workshops about democracy for immigrants

The library in a multilingual society: Good practices and ideas for libraries on how to make their services more inclusive to immigrants

About the project

Here below you will find a list of ideas, and manuals for good practices that we developed that you can try out in your library.

International meet ups

Sensory story telling

Postcard

Dialogues and interviews with the target groups

Chat and play (Tala og spila)

Democracy Workshop

Fjölmenning

Aðalsafn

Lindasafn

Aðalsafn

Lindasafn

Aðalsafn

Lindasafn