by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman
The immigrant population in Philadelphia accounts for 75% of the increased labor force growth since 2000 and an estimated 10.5% of city residents were born in other countries.
According to a Brookings Institute report last year, Philadelphia is re-emerging as a gateway destination for those coming to our country. Census cites those from China as the largest group of new Americans who live in the city, followed by those from India, the Dominican Republic and Vietnam.
Acclimating into a new society is hard.
Some don’t speak English; but fortunately many Free Library branches have newspapers in other languages that are a help to job seekers. The Reader Development program provides new Americans with easy reading English books and the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, housed at the library, is a good place to find out where literacy classes for adults are held.
Citizenship classes as well as computer training in native languages are also offered and waiting in the wings, when funds are available, is instruction in multiple languages for librarians to serve library clients better.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
