Celebrating 10 years of LSP

It’s Library Settlement Partnership Week in Canada, and we’re proudly celebrating our 10-year anniversary in partnership with the KW Multicultural Centre and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

LSP staff meet one-on-one with clients and help them to navigate and access resources related to language learning, health, housing, education, citizenship, and more. The service is available at Central Library and at Forest Heights and Grand River community libraries.

LSP staff also hold programs and events for all ages. In 2017, that included men’s and women’s health sessions, technology help for Arabic speakers, Christmas stories in Spanish, Ramadan for children, a Syrian youth group, a tax information session in Mandarin, community programs for adults 55+ in a variety of languages, and an opportunity to meet the Iraqi ambassador.

• Combined, LSP staff speak 14 languages
• Clients speak a total of at least 38 languages, and come from 43 different countries
• In 2017, LSP staff met with about 830 clients, and 855 people attended 46 programs
• Top countries of client origin represented: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan
• Top languages spoken by clients: Tigrinya, Arabic, Amharic, Farsi, and Dari

On our 10th anniversary, we want to thank our LSP partners, and in particular the staff: Hadembes, Mira, Gina, Juan, Wasan, Omaima, Ahmed, Yoke, Fariba, Ana Luz, Feyza, and Marta.

Do you want to get involved in helping newcomers settle in Waterloo Region?

Volunteer with KW Multicultural Centre’s one-on-one English conversation program

Volunteer with one of Kitchener Public Library’s English Conversation Circles

Sign up for Waterloo Region Connectors and help a newcomer build a network

MORE INFO

ESL materials and programs, including English Conversation Circles

International language collections

Learn more about LSP services and programs

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Happy Canada Day: Welcoming newcomers

We’d like to wish everyone a happy Canada Day, especially newcomers to Canada who are celebrating with us for the first time.

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve received a grant of $20,470 from the Immigration Partnership Council that we’ll be using to host English conversation circles for Syrian newcomers, beginning this fall. The grant funding will be used to pay for translation services, new resources,  and bus tickets for participants.

On June 24, Premier Kathleen Wynne visited Central Library and met with six local Syrian families for a private conversation circle of their own.

With an Arabic translator on hand, Premier Wynne said “We want you to fell welcome, and we want you to feel that you have opportunities.”

New goals for 2016? We can help!

So it’s a new year, and you’ve got plans and goals, and things you want to do and achieve and BE. Let’s not call them resolutions, because research suggests that only about 8 per cent of people stick to them.

I think you’re perfect just the way you are! But if you want to try something new in 2016, we can help. And remember, all of our resources and programs are free. Here are a few ideas:

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
In addition to books and CDs, we have an online learning program with grammar and speaking lessons in more than 90 languages. No experience necessary, you just need a library card to sign in. Try Transparent Language Online today.

EXPRESS YOURSELF
Join former artist, poet, and filmmaker Janice Jo Lee for spoken word poetry workshops at Central Library, beginning next week. No experience is necessary; attend one, two, or all three. Learn about storytelling, activism, and performance.

MOVE MORE
Find out if Aquafit is a good fit for you. Take a Curvy Yoga class (yoga is for every body!) in January or February. Bring your baby to yoga. Join us for an Azonto Dance Workshop, part of our Black History Month celebrations.

GET OUTSIDE
Borrow a pedometer and count your steps. Come out with us for a few nights of winter stargazing. Join us for a winter hike at the Huron Natural Area.

MEET NEW PEOPLE
Come out for a fun, no-pressure round of Friend Speed-Dating: it’s like dating, but just to meet potential new friends. Like movies, or reading? Meet and socialize with people who share your interests at Film Club or one of our many book clubs. Or try new games and drink free coffee at Board Game Cafe nights.

VOLUNTEER
Share your talents with your community by volunteering at Kitchener Public Library. Or find out if fostering a pet is right for you; you could help KW Humane Society by caring for pets until they find a forever home.

PRESERVE YOUR PAST
Learn how to write your family story. Save your old film, slides and VHS tapes for free, using our digital conversion tools. Find out the best way to organize your files and photos in this helpful workshop. Or contact Karen Ball-Pyatt, our local history librarian, for a 30 minute one-on-one genealogy coaching session.

BECOME FINANCIALLY FIT
Take care of your money so it can take care of you! Learn about budget and money management basics, effective tax strategies, retirement planning, lines of credit, credit reports, and more. We’ve got a finance class that’s just right for you.

There’s plenty more! Check out our website and take a look at our calendar of programs and events. Whatever your goals and dreams and aspirations are for 2016, we can help make them come true.