Strathmore Library’s immigrant packages welcomes new Canadians

Andrea Roberts
Times Contributor

 

The Strathmore Library recently came up with a new initiative to welcome immigrants into the community through the use of packages created for immigrants coming to Strathmore.
The packages are the brainchild of Carmen Erison, the Assistant Director of Library Services, who came up with the idea after she attended a Wheatland interagency meeting in June.
A member of the Filipino association gave a presentation during which Erison found that Strathmore has a large Filipino community.
“We have come to find that there is a large group of immigrants in Strathmore,” said Erison. “What we wanted to do is encourage them to come to the library as it is a great resource for people coming to our country.”
Currently there are 20 packages in each Spanish and Tagalog, which the library has identified as the two main languages coming to the community. Erison hopes to expand them if the turnout is good.
The packages themselves include translated brochures for adults and kids, and information about the library and services they offer. Erison hopes the packages will help to show the newcomers that their library has something for them. One of the services offered is the Mango learning services which features the ability for Spanish speakers to learn English as a Secondary Language (ESL).
The packages have been handed over to the Foothills Community Immigrant Services, as they are the ones that handle new immigrants coming into Strathmore. The packages will be available from them as early as next week.
The Foothills Community Immigrant Services have also helped to translate the information and brochures in the packages.
“This has just been wonderful to be able to have this service in our community and be able to appeal to new immigrants,” said Erison. “Hopefully we can see more of those groups coming into the library and using our library services.”