Brighton & Hove libraries awarded Library Service of Sanctuary status
Brighton & Hove libraries have been awarded the ‘Library Service of Sanctuary’ status in recognition of their efforts in welcoming, providing support and celebrating the culture and achievements of newcomers and marginalised groups in the city.
The award extended the ‘Library of Sanctuary’ status to all 13 of our city’s libraries, recognising them as a safe and welcoming environment for anyone seeking sanctuary, fleeing violence or persecution.
The status was formerly held by Jubilee Library only, which in 2019 became the second library service in the country to receive ‘Library of Sanctuary’ award.
Creating a welcoming environment
To gain the award, our libraries consulted people with lived experience to help shape their service and create an authentic voice, as well as worked closely with other council departments and organisations across the city and nationally who support people seeking sanctuary.
Library staff across the city received bespoke refugee, asylum seeker and migrant awareness training to ensure sanctuary seekers feel welcome in our libraries and staff have a greater understanding of their needs.
Our libraries regularly host cultural events and activities, with some delivered and planned by people with lived experience, to bring people together and create better understanding between the settled communities in Brighton & Hove and those who have arrived more recently.
All libraries in the city have books in community languages, relevant sign posting and information for people seeking sanctuary.
The Network of International Women have been commissioned to create welcome banners for the 13 libraries in our city, having created a wonderful welcome banner for Jubilee Library in 2020.
Learn more about how Brighton & Hove libraries support people seeking sanctuary on our libraries webpage.
Libraries of Sanctuary
The Libraries of Sanctuary initiative has been set up to recognise and celebrate good practice of libraries which welcome people seeking sanctuary and other new arrivals into their community.
It’s overseen by City of Sanctuary UK, who support a nationwide network to build a culture of welcome for people seeking sanctuary and promote understanding, recognition and celebration of the ways in which people seeking sanctuary enrich society.
The work at Jubilee Library features in City of Sanctuary’s new resource pack for Libraries of Sanctuary which is shared with other library services across the country.
Support and companionship
Councillor Leslie Pumm, Cabinet member for Communities, Equalities and Human Rights, said: “A huge congratulations to our libraries for achieving this important award and making all our of libraries ‘Libraries of Sanctuary’.
“It is absolutely vital that we have places in our city where newcomers can feel welcome and included, find support, companionship and even a little piece of their home in a form of a book in their language.
“I am very grateful to our passionate and dedicated library officers, who go above and beyond to create a fantastic space where everyone can feel welcome and safe.”
