09/01/2025

Public Library Services and Resources: Career Lifelines for Immigrants and Refugees

By Katie Kothenbeutel

The Role of Public Libraries in Serving Communities

Public libraries are among the few places that truly welcome all, offering resources and privacy (Howard, 2019). Libraries have long been a cornerstone of communities, providing free access to information, education, and a wide range of resources, including election services (68%), mobile library services (17.5%), English language acquisition (46%), and services to support GED students (59%) (Public Library Association, 2023, p. 10). To further their impact and reach, 98% of libraries also partner with at least one outside organization to offer free or reduced-cost community resources (Public Library Association, 2023).

A Snapshot of the Immigrant Population in Colorado

Colorado has a growing immigrant population, many of whom are highly skilled yet underemployed due to language, cultural barriers, or unrecognized credentials. According to the 2023 report by the Office of New Americans (2023), there are 539,514 foreign-born residents in Colorado, with 83% of them working age. While 32% hold a degree, 20% of them report being underemployed, highlighting the challenges in securing employment that matches their qualifications.

Arapahoe County, located to the southeast of Denver — a key service area of Arapahoe Libraries, reflects this diversity. Many immigrants come from Latin America and Asia, with Spanish, Vietnamese, and Russian among the most common languages spoken. The county also sees a high refugee resettlement, with recent arrivals from countries like Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Ukraine.

Mental Health and Employment Challenges Facing Immigrants

Research indicates that job loss and prolonged unemployment can lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and loss of confidence (Cantor et al., 2023). These challenges are compounded for immigrants experiencing language barriers and lack of US work experience.

Many immigrants cannot continue working in the trained professions of their native country due to legal, linguistic, or credentialing hurdles. This can result in "brain waste" (Fatokun, 2023), where skilled workers are underutilized, costing the US economy an approximate $10 billion in lost productivity and tax revenue (Kreimer, 2024).

Public libraries like Arapahoe Libraries play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by offering a range of free services that help immigrants integrate into the community and the workforce.

Arapahoe Libraries’ Career Services for Immigrants

The Career Services program at Arapahoe Libraries is a critical resource for immigrants and refugees, offering personalized support in addressing the unique barriers they face.

For example, a dedicated Career Services Librarian offers one-on-one assistance with resumes, job searches, and interviews. Patrons can access digital platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Gale Courses, Goodwill Online Training, and Grow with Google to build job skills and sometimes earn certifications. This can be helpful for immigrants who have skills in another country but need equivalent certifications in the US. The library also offers workshops on LinkedIn, job search basics, and employer research — particularly beneficial for immigrants unfamiliar with the US job market.

The library recently hosted its 4th annual New Americans Career and Education Fair, where 100 immigrants connected with 18 vendors — including employers, a community college, and two community organizations — and received resume support and coaching. Attendees represented 17 languages, with translators available on request.

Arapahoe Libraries also partners with local organizations to provide additional resources for immigrants that extend the library's reach. These specialized services include job placement assistance and English classes. These programs and resources are instrumental in helping immigrants overcome barriers to employment and gain confidence in navigating the US job market.

The Role of Libraries in Supporting Immigrant Job Seekers

Career practitioners can help connect their clients to these types of services, which vary by library and may include:

• Career Services: While 60.3% of public libraries identify economic development and job seeker support as a community need, only 9.1% provide formal services (Public Library Association, 2023). Most offer access to digital resources such as BlueCareer, which allows users to explore job matches in trades, and Job and Career Accelerator and JobNow by BrainFuse, which help with creating resumes, interview preparation, determining the best career path, and identifying education and training programs and scholarships.
• Language Support: Libraries often provide materials and programs in multiple languages. Others like Arapahoe Libraries offer English Language Acquisition (ELA) classes, as well as more casual conversation circles. These classes are crucial for helping immigrants overcome language barriers, which is often the first step toward securing meaningful employment. Additional resources may include hard copy and digital language learning books and free access to apps like Rosetta Stone.
• Business Help: Immigrants often turn to entrepreneurship. According to an article from the Bipartisan Policy Center, immigrant entrepreneurs express difficulties in finding work that aligns with the professional experiences and credentials from their home countries, as well in leveraging diaspora social networks for business advice and resources (Nepal & Ramón, 2022).  Arapahoe Libraries’ business librarian assists with business plans, grant searches, and market research.
• Bridging the Digital Divide: To address the lack of access to technology by immigrants and other underserved populations, libraries offer free computers, internet hotspots, tech help, and training. They also provide access to education and training platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Udemy.
• Community Resource Specialists: Library staff often help patrons access services related to housing, health insurance, mental health services, and more. Some libraries have their own Community Resource Specialist to serve in this role, while others employ a social worker.
  Public libraries may also offer free legal information, citizenship classes, tenant rights workshops, and other support programs.

Libraries: An Essential Part of a Community’s Infrastructure

Public libraries, like Arapahoe Libraries, are more than places to borrow books; they are gateways to new beginnings. For immigrants and refugees, they open doors to language learning, career growth, mental health support, and community belonging. For career practitioners, libraries are powerful allies, providing tools, technology, and programs that amplify their ability to guide clients toward brighter futures. As Colorado and the nation welcome growing immigrant communities, libraries will continue to stand as pillars of hope and opportunity — helping practitioners empower newcomers to thrive and ensuring immigrants can contribute their talents to the economy and the community.

References

Arapahoe Libraries. (n.d.). Arapahoe libraries. https://arapahoelibraries.org/ 

Cantor, J. C., Van Horn, C., Mouzon, D. M., & Walkup, J. (2023, Oct. 26). Unemployment and mental health: An important opportunity for cross-sector action. Milbank Memorial Fund blog. https://www.milbank.org/2023/10/unemployment-and-mental-health-an-important-opportunity-for-cross-sector-action/ 

Fatokun, O. (2023, March 1). Brain waste: Developing underutilized potential in highly-skilled, underemployed immigrants. Career Convergence. https://associationdatabase.com/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/494696/_self/CC_layout_details/true  

Howard, J. (2019, Nov. 7). The complicated role of the modern public library: Something for everyone. Humanities: The Magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities. https://www.neh.gov/article/complicated-role-modern-public-library

Kreimer, L. (2024, Nov. 14). Highly skilled immigrants face a changing landscape for credential recognition. Migration Policy Institute. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/credential-recognition-trends 

Nepal, S., & Ramón, C. (2022, June). Immigrant entrepreneurship: Economic potential and obstacles to success. Bipartisan Policy Center. https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BPC-Immigrant-Entrepreneurship-Report_Web-Ready_R01.pdf 

Office of New Americans. (2023). Annual report 2023. Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rulnWB_ren1Hfsrqs7I4dyjA_ocvJnfS/view 

Public Library Association. (2023). Public library services for strong communities report: Results from the 2022 PLA annual survey. Public Library Association. https://www.ala.org/pla/sites/ala.org.pla/files/content/data/PLA_Services_Survey_Report_2023.pdf 

Katie Kothenbeutel is a career services librarian in the Denver metro area. She has worked in libraries for nearly 20 years and one of her favorite parts of library work is working with people from other cultures, especially those newly arrived in the United States. Her first love is languages; she speaks Russian and German fluently, and some Spanish, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and French. She is passionate about bringing together the library and career services worlds. She can be reached at kkothenbeutel@arapahoelibraries.org or linkedin.com/in/katie-kothenbeutel.