In recent years, Denmark has received a large influx of immigrants and refugees from countries experiencing war and civil strife, such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Albania. Immigrants now make up 7 percent of the total population in Denmark.
In Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark behind Copenhagen, the percentage of immigrants is still greater: 12 percent. Aarhus Public Libraries considers part of its mission to be to contribute to the social integration and development of these immigrants. As Library Director Rolf Hapel says, “We believe the library can be a cultural rallying ground. … Public libraries can and should provide free and equal access to information for all, particularly those who are less fortunate.”
Giving Back to the Community
Aarhus Public Libraries has proven to be visionary in its creative outreach programs for these residents. One program, the IT Guides Project, recruits volunteers from immigrant communities to teach information technology skills to residents in a variety of languages, including Persian, Arabic, Somali, French, and Turkish. All volunteers must complete an intensive 28-hour training course.
Amir Zafar became an IT Guide in May 2004. Originally from Iran, he came to Denmark 16 years ago and wants to volunteer as a way of giving back to the community. “I am a volunteer because I believe that everyone—irrespective of professional, social, and cultural background—can learn about computers and the Internet,” he says.
Aarhus Public Libraries also helped develop FINFO, a Web site that provides information about social services in Denmark in 13 languages, including information about housing, employment, education, politics, and culture.
It’s a statement to the effectiveness of outreach programs such as these that roughly half of the immigrant population are now library cardholders—about the same percentage as ethnic Danes.
Abdirashid Sheikh Mohumud is a cardholder. Originally from Somalia, Abdirashid is a 34-year-old agricultural student who wants to be a university professor. He goes to the Gellerup Branch Library almost every day to read newspapers, do his homework, and search the Internet. “Here, we’re able to get information about what’s going on in the world and are able to communicate with people,” he says. “The world is not as big as we think.”
Going Beyond Traditional Library Services
Along with outreach services, Aarhus Public Libraries goes beyond traditional library services with a variety of innovative electronic options. More than 140,000 users—about half the population of Aarhus—have registered online and 57,000 users are signed up for e-mail notification of holds and overdue books. Aarhus Public Libraries offers more than 40 electronic services, including a variety of electronic magazines, a networked national question-and-answer service, and a personalized subscription service that notifies users by e-mail when the library receives new books by favorite authors or on topics of interest.
Lubna and Ali Niama and their 15-month-old daughter, Sara, are recent immigrants from Iraq. Soon after arriving in Denmark, the couple learned to use computers at the library. “It’s a beautiful thing when you have access to computers, to chat and talk with people all over the world,” says Lubna. “Libraries in Iraq are different because there are no technology, CDs, or videos—only books.” Lubna and Ali hope to teach their daughter to use computers, so she might one day become a doctor.
Jamal Sharifi is from Iraq, and his wife, Alih Aien Band, is from Iran. They have an old computer at home but no Internet access. Now they use the library to read Iraqi newspapers and search the Internet. “Technology is important to learn and improve your knowledge of the world,” says Jamal.