New to Canada?

Orientation andTraining for LibraryBased SettlementWorkersParticipants’ Handouts

Funded by:

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

1

Orientation Training for Library-based Settlement Workers

AGENDA 09.00 - 09.15 Refreshments 09.15 - 09.30 Icebreaker 09.30 - 09.45 Welcome, introduction & objectives 09.45 - 10.30 Library ‘treasure hunt’ - Activity 10.30 - 11.00 ESL & children’s services - Presentation 11.00 - 12.00 Scripted speech exercise – Activity 12.00 - 12.30 Lunch 12.30 - 12.45 Energizer 12.45 - 13.30 Defining roles – Activity 13.30 - 14.30 Getting started – Small group 14.30 - 14.45 Break 14.45 - 15.20 Best practices for greeting people – Demonstration 15.20 - 15.30 Library culture – Presentation 15.30 - 15.45 Wrap-up & Questions 15.45 – 16.00 Group evaluation

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

2

LIBRARY TREASURE HUNT ACTIVITY

CLIENT PROFILES

A family of 4 from ______, 2 adults and 2 children 0-5 years old, want to register as members of the library. What do they need to know about library membership and fines? A new immigrant from _____ would like to find books and other reading materials in _____. How can the library help? A newcomer parent is concerned about the problems her children are having with homework. How can the library help? A newly immigrated accountant is looking to apply for jobs in her field. How can the library help her? A newcomer would like to keep in touch with his family by email and also read news in his native language. How does he do this in the library?

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

3

ESL & CHILDREN SERVICES PRESENTATIONS

Handouts will be given at the session.

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

4

SCRIPTED SPEECH ACTIVITY –main points (name of community) has been and will continue to be the home for many newcomers. Coming to a new country can be very challenging but there are supports for newcomers. Government services for newcomers are called Settlement Services. Traditionally, these services are located in Settlement Agencies but more recently, they have been delivered from schools. This branch was selected to be part of a program which locates settlement services in libraries. There are x# of sites in total. A common settlement service is ____ I am not a library worker, I am a settlement worker who is based in a library. This community was chosen because of the high number of newly arrived families. Data from ___________ and _____________ schools shows that: _________ # of immigrants arrived in the last two years _________# of immigrants arrived in the last five years Most common newcomer languages are ____________ Personal statement about your qualifications Show samples of Handouts and posters… …..refer to services offered I look forward to…. I am excited about…..”

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

5

PRESENTATION TIPS

1. Prepare notes with key points

2. Hold the notes in your hand as you speak, refer to them to make sure you are saying what you intended

3. Make eye contact with audience

4. Smile

5. Speak loudly – check that everyone can hear you

6. Give concrete examples of the kinds of questions you can deal

with and how you will be helping clients. 7. Have an interesting demographic statistic to share. It will help

the library staff see you as an expert.

8. Invite Library staff to ask you questions 9. Distribute handouts after you speak so that the audience isn’t

distracted / or reading your materials as you speak.

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

6

DEFINING ROLES – PART 1 Are these activities part of your role as a library-based settlement worker? YES NO DON’T

KNOW

Retrieve library resources for clients

Walk around with clients

Approach people before they approach me

Doing outreach (actively seek out clients)

Refer clients to specific library staff and resources

Attend storytelling

Interpret for a client who does not speak English

Conduct internet searches for info on Settlement Services for a client

Stand in for a librarian at the counter while they go to the bathroom

Show a client how to access the multilingual feature

Receive a phone call on library phone

Make a phone call for the client

Participate in emergency procedures (evaluating during a fire-drill)

Intervene when clients illicit disruptive behaviour

Translate a letter for a client

Bring my own supplies (such as stationary)

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

7

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS ORDER SHEET Please review the promotional materials on display. Fill in and submit this order sheet to the workshop facilitator before the end of the session. Thank you! SW Agency ____________________________________________________ Contact Person _________________________________________________ Library _______________________________________________________ Contact Person _________________________________________________ Contact information______________________________________________ Quantity

Paper Foam core

Poster - Libraries & Success in School Posters:

Poster - Career Info in Library,

Poster - Info for Newcomers;

Playing Card Size Cards

Stand up Cards for reading tables

Fold over Flyers:

English Arabic Bengali Chinese Croatian Dari

Farsi Filipino French Gujarati Hindi Korean Pashtu Punjabi Russian Serbian Somali Spanish Tamil Urdu

Send to Peter Dorfman pdorfman@cicswis.ca fax 416 534 1464

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

8

Centrally: 1. establish operational guidelines to guide the project

2. identify the participating libraries

3. organize training for the SWs and library contact people

At the branch:

1. develop communication plan for library staff about the settlement service

2. identify the workspace, including appropriate space for meeting with clients (if possible)

3. arrange computer access for the settlement worker

4. create space for promotional materials

5. establish process for library staff to refer clients to the settlement

worker and vice-versa

6. identify space for the SW’s personal belongings

7. establish routines for telephone and photocopier access

8. discussion about the schedule of the settlement worker

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

9

BEST PRACTICES FOR GREETING CLIENTS

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

10

LIBRARY CULTURE Having more information about the following may facilitate your integration into the library: Where to sit in the staff room

Rules on use of the kitchen (eg: use of fridge / mugs etc)

How to address library staff (first name / last name )

The dress code

How to address your concerns and questions

How to handle sick days and emergencies

Having access to the phone for personal calls

Orientation Training for Library-Based Settlement Workers Participant’s Handbook

11

KEY MESSAGES Our first activity of the day was the LIBRARY TREASURE HUNT. In this activity, we learned that libraries offer a variety of resources, programs and services to meet newcomer needs of all agencies (not just books). SWs will need to be aware of what kinds of resources their own branch offers . The next activity was the SCRIPTED SPEECH exercise which gave SWs an opportunity to prepare their introductory speeches using relevant demographic data about the community close to their library. The practice session was also meant to build the SWs’ confidence to make a speech in-front of library staff. The third activity was the DEFINING ROLES discussion. This activity gave participants the opportunity to review the roles and responsibilities that are outlined in the Operational Guidelines and to familiarize them with what is expected for each role. SWs are encouraged to keep to those roles as a way of building good relationships with library staff. Remember – you are meant to do settlement work in the library not library work! In the GETTING STARTED discussion, we learned that it is important to be clear about who and where to go to for specific resources, issues and situations. This was followed by the session on BEST PRACTICES FOR GREETING CLIENTS where we learned some practical and useful tips for greeting clients in different situations. The key messages here are that SWs are encouraged to move around and to approach clients tactfully and that library workers are encouraged to support SWs by referring clients to them, when appropriate. Finally, in the LIBRARY CULTURE discussion, SWs are reminded of the importance of careful observation and checking-in with library staff in order to get a sense of how things are done in their libraries. This will facilitate a smooth and seamless transition into the library.