Making Space for Adolescents of Refugee Background in Public Libraries
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Refugee adolescents go through multiple transitions that affect identity while settling in their country of relocation. The ability to recognize the complexity of identity in a healthy way is fostered by safe spaces of belonging that encourage agency. Libraries, as spaces already effectively serving diverse populations including refugee youth, have the resources to be a safe space for adolescents of refugee background. SUBJECTS: This project aimed to aid refugee adolescents and identity formation by creating effective makerspaces in public libraries. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Using a funds of identity and space-making theoretical framework, this project gathered data from empirical studies to establish what safe spaces for healthy identity formation for refugee youth look like, how makerspaces can be constructed to fit these requirements, and what positive outcomes in healthy identity formation might result. ANALYSES: Spaces for healthy refugee identity formation are spaces that create belonging through community, and agency through the ability to do collaborative multimodal activities that are strengths-based. Establishing a quality makerspace for refugee youth would contain refugee-centered research to create what tools and resources would be available and could have residual benefits for the library staff and patrons in building capacity. RESULTS: These findings result in a guidebook for public libraries on how to establish a makerspace that specifically caters to refugee identity formation to empower and amplify refugee adolescent voices amidst transition. CONCLUSIONS: Effective library makerspaces for refugee youth build community through multimodal and strength-based activities.
Making Space for Adolescents of Refugee Background in Public Libraries
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Refugee adolescents go through multiple transitions that affect identity while settling in their country of relocation. The ability to recognize the complexity of identity in a healthy way is fostered by safe spaces of belonging that encourage agency. Libraries, as spaces already effectively serving diverse populations including refugee youth, have the resources to be a safe space for adolescents of refugee background. SUBJECTS: This project aimed to aid refugee adolescents and identity formation by creating effective makerspaces in public libraries. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Using a funds of identity and space-making theoretical framework, this project gathered data from empirical studies to establish what safe spaces for healthy identity formation for refugee youth look like, how makerspaces can be constructed to fit these requirements, and what positive outcomes in healthy identity formation might result. ANALYSES: Spaces for healthy refugee identity formation are spaces that create belonging through community, and agency through the ability to do collaborative multimodal activities that are strengths-based. Establishing a quality makerspace for refugee youth would contain refugee-centered research to create what tools and resources would be available and could have residual benefits for the library staff and patrons in building capacity. RESULTS: These findings result in a guidebook for public libraries on how to establish a makerspace that specifically caters to refugee identity formation to empower and amplify refugee adolescent voices amidst transition. CONCLUSIONS: Effective library makerspaces for refugee youth build community through multimodal and strength-based activities.