Beyond Storytime: Oklahoma Public Libraries’ Comprehensive Approach to the Resilience of Refugee Children and Their Families Support

Abstract

Public libraries serve as vital community hubs that foster engagement, empowerment, and education, particularly for vulnerable populations, including refugee children and families. This study examines how Oklahoma’s public libraries contribute to refugee resilience and identifies challenges they face in providing these essential services. Using a qualitative method approach, including 20 semi-structured interviews with library staff, questionnaire surveys, and observations conducted across three Oklahoma library systems (Metropolitan, Pioneer, and Tulsa City-County) the study explored programs, services, and strategies that support refugee adaptation and integration. Findings reveal that libraries excel in three key areas: cognitive services (language literacy, digital access, educational resources), socio-cultural services (community building, cultural exchange), and physiological services (safe spaces, welcoming environments). These services contribute to building human, social, and economic capital, with human capital consistently ranked as most crucial for refugee resilience. However, libraries face significant challenges, with language barriers, program gaps, and outreach limitations being the most prevalent obstacles. Additional barriers include facility constraints, transportation difficulties, resource limitations, and privacy concerns. The study proposes nine comprehensive guidelines for creating sustainable pathways to refugee resilience through enhanced library services, emphasizing proactive community engagement, staff training, multilingual resources, advocacy, strategic partnerships, tailored programming, transportation solutions, cultural competence, and welcoming environments. This study contributes to understanding how public libraries can function as inclusive institutions that support refugee children’s successful integration and development in their new communities.