Neighbourhood library in Sherbrooke creating hub for newcomers

GabrielKabrocan't remember ever entering a library in his home country of Syria.

Only steps away from his new home in Sherbrooke, Que., where he moved with his family three years ago, Kabroand his siblings can now spend hours looking through the colourful books that linethe walls of a basement apartment, turned into a neighbourhood library.

"Last time, I got a book aboutSpongeBoband so did my brother," he said,adding he hopes to find some titles in Arabic.

Storm on the Savanna,The Atlas of Global Inequalities,Afghanistan in picturesthe collectiondepictsrealities from around the world that userslike Kabrocan identify with.

The 11-year-old, his younger brotherManuel and sister Shoshancan nowattend story time once a week along with other kids fromSherbrooke'sFleurimontborough, one of the most diverse in the city.

Serving up food and tales

SimplynamedLabibliothqueduquartier,library coordinatorJulia Mikhail saidthe idea came from local residentswho got together to build up the project.

"We saw the need for it. Not only for children but also for adults[because they have limited] access to books and reading material," she said, adding that Sherbrooke's closest public libraryis a 20-minute bus ride from Fleurimont.

The basement apartment was donated by thehousing co-operative Habitationsl'querre, which comprises several affordable housing units on Jardins-FleurisStreet, where several immigrant families live.

Community organizations have used theapartment as a base for several services over the years, according to Mikhail,but she said activities have explodedin the past six months.

The library is the latestaddition, sharing the space with a food bank distributioncentre, a small food co-op and a meeting place for French classes and craft workshops.

No library card, no strings attached

A portion of the library containsbooks that canonly be read on site.

The collection was purchased thanks to a $7,000 grant from Partners for Educational Success Estrie, a school perseverance program in the Eastern Townships.

Used booksare alsodonated on a regular basis by the thrift storeEstrie Aide. The library allows users like HubertNidiniganidilim to bring the donatedtitles homeno library card required andno questions asked.

Nidiniganidilimsaid this is a convenient option for him, given a trip to the library with his four children under the age of six is no easy task.

The familymoved to Sherbrooke six months ago fromCentral African Republic and learned about the library while picking up a food basket.

"It's easy to get here, I can just walk and stop by and that makes it very accessible."

Nidiniganidilim said his children love to look at the images in the books he brings home, and reading allows him to improve his French.

Georges Korjiwas a pharmacist in his native Syria. He had to leave his book collection at home when he left for Sherbrooke six months ago.

"You have priorities, so you cannot choose the books.You just want to getout because of the war," he said.

Korjisaid he lovesthe initiativeand is hoping to discover more books in the coming months on subjects such as philosophy, spirituality, and pharmaceutical research.