Libraries' Roles in Refugee Response Efforts Bordering a Conflict Zone (LIBBORDER)

Libraries' Roles in Refugee Response Efforts Bordering a Conflict Zone (LIBBORDER) project examines how public libraries in Hungary and Poland, two countries bordering Ukraine, responded to the influx of Ukrainian refugees following the 2022 outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Library roles, programs, partnerships, and their implications for professional and management roles and competencies were analyzed. Using mixed methods, the study investigated previously unstudied 2018 questionnaire data and twelve subsequent staff interviews. Findings reveal libraries addressing evolving refugee needs in three phases: meeting primary needs, supporting settlement, and emphasizing literacy and integration. Despite variations between Poland and Hungary, both countries' libraries played significant roles in community support. However, their effectiveness depended on integration into local initiatives and securing support. Further research is deemed necessary to understand global library services to refugees and immigrants amidst increasing migration.