Nashville Public Library + Nashville Public Library Foundation | 2015 Annual Report

YASSIR AL SHAIKHLY
Adult Literacy Assistant, Nashville Public Library
“
26
I came to Nashville in 2009 as an immigrant
from Iraq. I had heard of the public library
system in the U.S. from a friend, but had
no idea the extent of services the library
offered – and for free. At the time, I didn’t
have access to a car or a device to learn the
bus route and wasn’t able to communicate
with my friends and family back home.
So I began to walk and finally found the
Edmonson Pike branch library. After that,
everything changed for the better. I was
able to use the computers and Wi-Fi to
talk with my family for the first time in
two months. I spent about five hours a
day there, studying for the GED test, and I
learned about public services, programs
and community education classes offered
by the library and partner organizations.
Since coming to the library, I’ve earned my
GED and associate degree and am currently
a senior at MTSU studying computer
information systems. I became naturalized
last year after passing the U.S. citizenship test,
thanks to the helpful resources offered by the
library’s Pathways for New Americans initiative.
Today, I’m proud to serve as the library’s
Adult Literacy assistant and help other
immigrants and adults in Nashville learn
how to use computers and technology, get
jobs, and understand all the resources the
library has to offer. The library is not just a
place for books, as many adult refugees
and immigrants believe. At Nashville Public
Library, we come to you. If you are disabled,
don’t have a car or live far away, we can still
help you learn English, help you get your
GED and continue your education. This isn’t
the case in other countries. When I came
here, I was 24 years old, and I discovered the
library by myself. I enjoy getting to help other
adults who are in need of someone to show
them what resources are made available by
the public library system.
“