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View Winners → Pasadena Public Library Awarded $62K Grant for Citizenship and Immigration Resources
Community Jul 09, 2019
The Pasadena Public Library will now have more resources to help with patrons prepare for the citizenship test. - Courtesy photo / Facebook, @pasadenalibrary
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The Pasadena Public Library will now have more resources to help with patrons prepare for the citizenship test. – Courtesy photo / Facebook, @pasadenalibrary
The California State Library recently awarded Pasadena Public Library a local Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant of $62,000 to focus on bolstering citizenship and immigration resources at the La Pintoresca and Villa Parke Branch libraries and Central Library. “Libraries try to provide resources on everything including immigration, which is a very complex issue,” said Melvin Racelis, senior librarian at La Pintoresca Branch Library who is leading this project. “Recently, there has been an increased interest in this topic. As librarians, it is important that we serve the informational needs of immigrants to our community, as well as anyone interested in the citizenship process.”
Newly created Citizenship Corners at each of the three library sites will provide patrons with access to resources and materials to assist them with understanding United States citizenship and related processes, including information kits, which will be available for checkout. These locations will also host bilingual educational workshops in English and Spanish in partnership with outside organizations to address a variety of immigrant needs. Additionally, library staff will receive training from the Department of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to help them better assist patrons with questions on the citizenship process.
To prepare further for the naturalization test the Pasadena Human Services and Recreation Department offers a U.S. Citizenship Class at Villa Parke Community Center for adults ages 50 and up. This class provides participants with a basic overview of U.S. history and government.
Funding for this grant is provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. For more information, contact Melvin Racelis, (626) 744-7268 or mracelis@cityofpasadena.net or Catherine Hany, (626) 744-4207 or chany@cityofpasadena.net.
