LSTA Grant: Pathways to Citizenship |
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The Somerville Public Library has been awarded a $13,305 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) to create a 2 year “Pathways to Citizenship” program. The 2 year program will offer a 14 week beginner ESOL and civics awareness class, provide USCIS Naturalization and Immigration Workshops to library patrons, and create a Citizenship Corner at each library. Cultural Humility training for library staff will also be provided and a training of trainers (TOT) program will be created to keep the program going past the 2-year grant period.
For more information, please contact Brigid, bpigott@minlib.net
Pathways to Citizenship is made possible through federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
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Featured Collection: Zines |
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Zines are books that are often hand-made, self-published, and printed in very limited numbers. Zines range from comic books, to small articles on birds or movies, to poetry chapbooks, to pamphlets. Since many of them are locally-produced and cover topics of local interest, they offer a wonderful window into the minds of our neighbors and document the concerns of our community. Zines offer unique views that don't often show up in other publications.
Central Library has a growing collection of locally-produced zines that can be requested for contactless pickup. If you would like to reserve a bundle, please email Tim, tdevin@minlib.net.
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Staff Book & Zine Recommendations |
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Alana and David, a couple with type 1 diabetes and a visual impairment, respectively, discuss dating while disabled. While they each describe their individual medical histories, and the ways in which they have coped with and adjusted their lives for their invisible disabilities, they also focus on how they have integrated their impairments into their relationship together, even from the very beginning on their OK Cupid profiles. This zine also includes queer femme fashion tips for diabetic women, stories about biking with a handicap, and hand drawn illustrations to accompany the textual content.
Recommended by Tim, Technology Librarian
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Dias De Consuelo is the multi-volume story of Dave’s grandmother, Consuelo Castñon Herrera, who was born during the Mexican Revolution. Throughout the series Dave explains the political, social, and economic impact of the Mexican Revolution through Consuelo and her family, and honors his grandmother through beautiful, often tender illustrations of the family cooking, performing household chores, going to school, and working.
Recommended by Cathy, Director of Libraries
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Set in a gritty, grim Thatcher-era Glasgow, this moving novel chronicles the relationship between precocious and slightly odd Shuggie, and his glamourous and struggling mother, Agnes. Although realistic about addiction, the characters have their dignity and humanity in this Booker Prize winning novel.
Recommended by Melinda, Generalist Librarian
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A poetic, thoughtful essay on flea markets and the vendors who work at them.
Recommended by Tim, Technology Librarian
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Mia and her parents are immigrants from China, and manage a motel in California with a truly unkind owner. Despite his rules, Mia and her family make the motel a welcome place for a variety of long-term residents, as well as immigrants in need of a place to sleep. While dealing with everything at the motel, Mia is also dealing with 5th grade, friends, wanting to be a writer (when her mom wants her to focus on math), and much more.
Recommended by Alison, West Branch Children's Librarian
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A realistic, coming of age story with some magical elements shared through storytelling. The main character is a boy, Tien, who is struggling with telling his parents he's gay. He and his parents read library books together, partly to improve their English as they are from Vietnam, but mostly as a treasured family activity. Sharing stories ends up being the tool that helps bring them closer together. The story moves between Tien's day to day life, to the fairy tale characters in the stories that are shared, to his mother's own experience leaving Vietnam, and her relationship with family there.
Recommended by Meghan, East Branch Children's Librarian
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Virtual Citizenship Classes |
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Since the first citizenship classes were held at the SPL in September 2019, 5 students have passed the citizenship interview. Many more have submitted their applications and are awaiting interview dates. Edna (pictured here with her husband) is the most recent student to be naturalized. She is originally from Brazil and wanted to become a US citizen because she loves the US and says that the US has changed her life. Edna wants to encourage others to become US citizens as well and states, "If you have this opportunity please get it. Never wait for next year or next time." Congratulations, Edna!
Citizenship Classes are offered virtually on Zoom. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Brigid, bpigott@minlib.net
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