Homa Naficy was born in France to Iranian parents. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the American University of Paris, she immigrated to the United States and earned a master of library science from Rutgers University. After Naficy became a U.S. citizen in 2000, she strongly advocated that public libraries begin offering immigration and citizenship services. She joined the Hartford Public Library to design and direct the American Place (TAP), the library’s program for immigrants and refugees. She is now TAP’s executive director.
TAP has become a magnet for new arrivals seeking immigration information, resources for learning English, and help with preparation for applying for U.S. citizenship. “The immigrant journey is not an easy one,” Naficy says. “But for many of them the library can offer a glimmer of hope and a community connected to their needs as they embrace our shared civic values while never losing their identities.”
In 2010 Naficy’s TAP program was awarded a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and a Citizenship Education Grant from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — making Hartford’s the only library system in the nation to receive such funding. Naficy has since partnered with Hartford’s USCIS office to obtain accreditation for TAP to provide legal services to immigrants.
In 2013 Naficy was named a Champion of Change by the Obama White House. Six years later, she received the I Love My Librarian Award, presented by the American Library Association, for community leadership and her commitment to transforming lives.
