Pendleton Library staff have been celebrated in a Library Of Sanctuary award.
Library development officer Catherine Shaw has shared her proud moment of the Pendleton library being recognised for its efforts in creating a welcoming environment for refugees and asylum seekers.
Shaw applied for the award just over six months ago. She recognised the great attributes which the library had to offer, with their ‘libraries are for everyone’ ethos.
Catherine Shaw expressed, “I was relieved and obviously really chuffed to bits. I just thought we’ve been working on it for so long, and it’s a real passion project of mine.
“A library is more than just books and computers; it’s a community space.”
All staff members were thrilled with the award and one staff member, Holly Cope said: “It felt really good and now a lot of people do come in the library just for a place to go.
“They join clubs and make new friends, so having that be a sanctuary space feels really nice.”
In light of all of the political issues over the last few years, it is more important than ever that vulnerable people have a safe sanctuary to reside to. Shaw thought she could offer that to them, not only in an environment but also by providing services.
She said: “I felt that we could provide a warm, welcoming and safe space to refugees, asylum seekers.”
The library offers free printing to refugees and asylum seekers. People often visit the library to print council documents, and this can be an expensive task.
Shaw said: “It could be £5 or £10 worth of printing. It’s expensive, and they don’t have the money for that.
“They may only have a fiver a day to live off that day.”
The library is making vulnerable people’s lives a little easier, and ‘they are grateful for that’.
Language barriers can sometimes get in the way of communication. The library has hopes in the future to make the library more accessible to others who may not have English as their first language.
Shaw said: “We’re working on communication accessibility, so that when you walk into somewhere there is 50 different languages. We’re trying to look at ways we can get messages across because sometimes it’s a language barrier.”
Shaw feels strongly about showcasing a wide range of diversity in the library. She organises a refugee week in which she puts together an information and book display.
One of the books including one of Salford’s own residents, Deborah Munganyinka Simugomwa on surviving the Rwanda Genocide.
Since winning the award, the library has been continuing to help by introducing a library tour once a month, aimed for refugees and asylum seekers.
The library will be offering tours to familiarise surroundings for new residents of the area.
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