Academic literature on the topic 'Public libraries Victoria Services to minorities'

Abstract Despite the increasing focus on the protection and promotion of the cultures of ethnic minority groups in China, the multicultural services in China’s public libraries have not yet been strengthened. This paper reports on a research study that aimed to develop a framework of library multicultural services to serve as a conceptual basis for the development of these types of services in China’s public libraries and in particular for those libraries located in China’s ethnic minority regions. Yanbian Library, the regional central library of China’s Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, was selected as a case study, with 10 library professionals approached and interviewed using a semi-structured interview script. All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The analysis pointed to 21 multicultural services in five main themes: multicultural user services, multilingual collection development, development of multicultural service teams, marketing of multicultural services and management of multicultural services. Although this study is situated in China, the research findings are of potential interest to library and information professionals, educators and researchers worldwide.

Abstract Objective – The public library sector’s future prosperity is contingent upon a well-trained, experienced, and valued workforce. In a collaborative initiative, State Library Victoria (SLV) and the Public Libraries Victoria Network (PLVN) commissioned an in-depth research study to examine the skills requirements of staff across the State. The Our Future, Our Skills project sought to identify the range of skills used by public library staff today, to anticipate the range of skills that would be needed in five years’ time, and to present a skills gap analysis to inform future training and development strategies. Methods – The project encompassed qualitative and quantitative research activities: literature review and environmental scan, stakeholder interviews, focus groups and a workforce skills audit. The research populations were staff (Individual survey) and managers (Management survey) employed in 47 library services, including metropolitan, outer metropolitan and regional library services in Victoria. Results – The high response rate (45%) reflected the relevance of the study, with 1,334 individual and 77 management respondents. The data captured their views related to the value of their skillsets, both now and in five years’ time, and the perceived levels of confidence using their skills. The sector now has a bank of baseline evidence which has contributed to a meaningful analysis of the anticipated skills gaps. Conclusions – This paper focuses on the critical importance of implementing evidence-based practice in public libraries. In an interactive workshop, managers determined the skills priorities at both the local and sectoral levels to inform staff development programs and recruitment activities. A collaborative SLV/PLVN project workgroup will implement the report’s recommendations with a state-wide workforce development plan rolled out during 2015-17. This plan will include a training matrix designed to bridge the skills gap, with a focus on evaluation strategies to monitor progress towards objectives. The paper provides insights into the different ways in which the project workgroup is using research evidence to drive practice.

Objective – To determine the frequency and nature of perceived beneficial outcomes of public libraries on individuals, and to identify demographic differences in these perceived outcomes. Design – Self-administered, online questionnaire asking respondents to rate the frequency of benefits they received from public libraries in 22 areas of life including education, work, and business; everyday activities; and leisure activities. Setting – United States of America. Subjects – 1010 respondents from 49 states: 50% female, 76% white, 55% urban or suburban. Methods – Correspondence analysis was used to visualize relationships between demographic variables and perceived outcomes. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify structures among the outcomes and summarize data into three core dimensions: everyday activities and interests; reading and self-education; and work and formal education. Multiway ANOVAs were used to test the significance of demographic differences on perceived outcomes. Main Results – The most highly ranked areas of perceived benefits were reading fiction and non-fiction, self-education during leisure time, interest in history or society, and health. Outdoor activities, exercise, and sport ranked the lowest. Respondents in younger age groups reported benefits in “education and work,” as did ethnic minorities and people with lower household incomes. “Everyday life” benefits were reported by male, suburban, White, middle-income respondents. “Reading and self-education” benefits were reported by high-income, older age groups, White, and female respondents. Two demographic groups did not correspond to any benefit categories: those who did not graduate high school and those over age 65. Conclusion – There are significant differences among demographic groups in how the benefits of public libraries are perceived, and these demographic differences have implications for program planning, marketing, and outreach in public libraries. Specifically, libraries should work to increase and improve service to less-advantaged groups, including low-income earners and ethnic minorities, and make available more services and resources relevant to older people.

The Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023, without neglecting the important issue of voluntary and forced migration in the European area and the particular “vulnerability” of migrant women and girls, addresses the protection of the rights of migrant, refugees and asylum-seeking women and girls in the ffth strategic objective by stressing out that “measures need to be taken to ensure that migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women have access to their human and social rights in relation to individual freedom, employment, housing, health, education, social protection and welfare where applicable; and access to information about their rights and the services available.” In this regard, European experiences after the great migration wave from 2015 have already shown that the full and successful integration of migrant women and girls into European society requires the collaborative work of numerous national and international bodies, governmental and non-governmental sectors, and other relevant institutions and organizations, including libraries that should address special attention “to groups which are often marginalized in culturally diverse societies: minorities, asylum seekers and refugees, residents with a temporary residence permit, migrant workers, and indigenous communities.” (IFLA / UNESCO Multicultural Library Manifesto 2008). In this context, this paper will provide an overview of selected programs and services targeted at migrant women in public libraries in the European area. In conclusion, paper highlights the important role of public libraries in the processes of linguistic and social integration of migrant women, and points out the need for continuous improvement of programs and services designed for migrant women, which should be an integral part of diversifed public library services.

We live in an increasingly heterogeneous society. The rate of international migration has contributed to cultural diversity in many nations. Libraries of all types have started to address cultural and linguistic diversity while providing information sources and services. According to The IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto (2008), each individual has the right to a full range of library and information services, and libraries should serve all members of the community without discrimination. Special attention should be paid to cultural and linguistic groups which are underserved such as minorities, refugees, immigrants, including those with temporary residence permits. Public libraries are considered useful social instruments in the democratization of information. They are agents for social change and excellent tools for the integration of immigrants. They prepare immigrants for citizenship by introducing them to the values of their new nation, and frequently sustain them through the initial period of adaptation. They are spaces where patrons can readily access information, not only to increase their knowledge, but also to improve their abilities and skills in order to participate in society. As the key for life-long learning and success not only in school and the work place but also in daily life, information literacy skills must be developed by immigrants, refugees and foreign residents in order for them to integrate into their adopted country. Knowing how to access, use and communicate information effectively will enable the social inclusion of newcomers. Therefore, developing special information literacy programs to equip such groups with information literacy skills should be among the priorities of public libraries. In this study, the importance of information literacy skills in multicultural societies in terms of the social inclusion of immigrants will be underlined. Findings of a survey which has been conducted to ascertain information needs of foreign residents in Turkey and the level of fulfillment of their information needs will be presented. The findings of the research will also be used to make suggestions for developing information literacy programs which address the specific information needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Objective – Analysis and discussion of attitudes of U.K. citizens toward the architecture and design of the country’s public libraries. Design – Content analysis of essays submitted to the U.K. Mass Observation Archive (MOA). Setting – Citizens of the United Kingdom. Subjects – 180 respondents from a panel of 500 Mass Observation Archive (MOA) volunteers. Methods – The MOA originated in the 1930s as a way to gather qualitative evidence regarding everyday life of the British public. Most of the data gathered takes the form of variable length essays written by a panel of 500 anonymous volunteers. The volunteers respond to specific directives, and in this article, Black summarized responses to a directive he originally posed to the 500 volunteers in 2005: ‘Public Library Buildings’. Black issued this particular directive to the panel of volunteers in the autumn of 2005 and results were made available to the public by mid-2006.The MOA received a total of 180 responses, of which 121 were from women and 59 were from men. Both users of libraries and non-users were included in the sample. The respondents were not a representative sample of the British public because men, ethnic minorities, lower socio-economic groups, and those living outside of the South of England were underrepresented. The author analyzed the content of the 180 submitted essays to gain insight on attitudes regarding public library design and architecture. Respondents were asked about public library location, environmental fit, architectural style, sensory aspects of the building, and whether or not the building resembled other types of public buildings. Although he posed several questions, Black focused on answers to three questions: what do you think about the design of modern library buildings? Do you prefer them to older style buildings? Have you seen older libraries renovated into more modern libraries, and what do you think of them? Black then analyzed the responses and grouped them into four major attitudes toward the architecture and design of public libraries. The author chose not to code any of the responses and instead chose to analyze the ‘discourse’ in and not necessarily the ‘content’ of the essays. After analyzing the discourse, Black contextualized the evidence he discovered. He then discussed political and cultural issues with relation to the four major attitudes and how these issues affected the current landscape of libraries. Main Results – The four major categories derived from the essays that Black analyzed included: preference for the new; preference for the old; preference for a mixing of the old and the new; architectural indifference, the library as ‘place’ and the concept of ‘libraryness.’ Those with a preference for the new preferred the newer, more modern building because it fit better within the world of information technology. These respondents also felt that the older buildings were too intimidating and cold. Those who preferred the older architecture and design felt that the buildings allowed them to access a piece of the past, and they thought an older library to be more impressive, historic, and generally have more elaborate and interesting architecture. These respondents pointed out the fewer places to hide in new libraries, and indicated that new architecture is boring and stolid. The third group of respondents preferred an older exterior, but an up-to-date interior with a more modern infrastructure. They enjoyed the large impressive buildings but liked the interior to contain comfortable, modern furniture, good lighting, as well as updated technological tools. Finally, the remaining group of respondents did not place importance on the physical space of a library, but more so the services and collections within the physical space. Conclusion – The discourse derived from the MOA and analyzed in Black’s article summarizes the attitudes and preferences that citizens of the UK have regarding public library architecture. Among the 180 responses to the ‘Public Library Buildings’ directive, there is a clear tension in these attitudes and preferences. The information gathered in the MOA directive on public libraries could also provide political and cultural leaders with evidence of a need for renewal or rethinking of the country’s public libraries.

From its beginnings in 1836 as the library of the Government School of Design, the National Art Library (NAL) in the UK was intended to have an impact on design in the country. After the Great Exhibition of 1851 it former part of what was to become known as the Victoria and Albert Museum (V & A). By the 1850s it had already adopted the title of National Art Library, although it was called the V & A Museum Library between 1908 and 1985. By 1853 collections aimed to cover the arts and trades comprehensively, and by 1869 the NAL aimed also at comprehensive access to individual objects created in the course of history. By 1852, the library was open to all, although a charge was made at first. Various forms of subject indexing have been used; from 1877 to 1895 subject lists were prepared for internal use and sold to the public, and from 1869 to 1889 a remarkable Universal catalogue of books on art was produced. The present mission statement of the NAL focuses on collecting, documenting and making available information on the history and practice of art, craft and design, and the library aims its services at both the national and international community. However, its great 19th century contribution to published subject control of art materials has been almost completely absent in the 20th century. During 1994 the NAL will contribute records to the British Library (BL) Conspectus database, though there is little formal cooperation between the two libraries. As a specialist library it can organize its collections and index them in ways that are impossible for a comprehensive library such as the BL, and it therefore has an important part to play in the national library scene.

Abstract Objective – This paper is based on a national survey conducted in late 2013 by the authors, then co-moderators of the Visible Minority Librarians of Canada (ViMLoC) Network of the Canadian Library Association (CLA). It is a first survey of its kind, aiming to capture a snapshot of the demographics of the visible minority librarians working in Canadian institutions. The authors hoped that the data collected from the survey and the analysis presented in this paper would help identify the needs, challenges and barriers of this group of librarians and set future directions for ViMLoC. The authors also hoped that the findings would be useful to library administrators, librarians, and researchers working on multicultural issues, diversity, recruitment and retention, leadership, library management, and other related areas. Methods – An online survey questionnaire was created and the survey invitation was sent to visible minority librarians through relevant library association electronic mail lists and posted on ViMLoC’s electronic mail list and website. The survey consisted of 12 questions: multiple-choice, yes/no questions, and open-ended. The survey asked if the participants were visible minority librarians. If they responded “No,” the survey closed for them. Respondents who did not identify themselves as minority librarians were excluded from completing the survey. Results – Of the 192 individuals that attempted, 120 who identified themselves as visible minority librarians completed the survey. Of these, 36% identified themselves as Chinese, followed by South Asian (20%) and Black (12%). There were 63% who identified themselves as first generation visible minorities and 28% who identified themselves as second generation. A total of 84% completed their library degree in Canada. Equal numbers (38% each) identified themselves as working in public and academic libraries, followed by 15% in special libraries. Although they are spread out all over Canada and beyond, a vast majority of them are in British Columbia (40%) and Ontario (26%). There were 38% who identified themselves as reference/information services librarians, followed by “other” (18%) and “liaison librarian” (17%). A total of 82% responded that they worked full time. The open-ended question at the end of the survey was answered by 42.5% of the respondents, with responses falling within the following broad themes: jobs, mentorship, professional development courses, workplace issues, general barriers, and success stories. Conclusions – There are at least 120 first, second, and other generation minority librarians working in (or for) Canadian institutions across the country and beyond. They work in different kinds of libraries, are spread out all over Canada, and have had their library education in various countries or in Canada. They need a forum to discuss their issues and to have networking opportunities, and a mentorship program to seek advice from other librarians with similar backgrounds who have been in similar situations to themselves when finding jobs or re-pursuing their professional library degrees. Getting support from and working collaboratively with CLA, ViMLoC can be proactive in helping this group of visible minority librarians.

This study was designed to examine the role of social media as a tool in the library for social integration. Social integration is the process during which newcomers or minorities are incorporated into the social structure of the host society. Social integration, together with economic integration and identity integration are three main dimensions of newcomers' experiences in the society that is receiving them. Social Media’s presence is almost everywhere and the vision of the library within the last few years has been that library services should go to users not necessarily that users should come physically to the library. Social Media is expected to be a veritable tool in achieving this purpose. The study revealed that; privacy concern, low levels of technology penetration, network problem, lack of awareness, lack of funds etc. as the major challenge librarians encounter in the use of social media for promoting library and information services and enhancing social integration. It also concluded thatthe integration of the society via social media technology into library services is more than a management strategy; it is a tool that can be deployed to transform library services and bring cutting edge services to users in the face of dwindling budgets. And the finally this paper recommends that Libraries should design their services in such a way that they will fully employ the sharing capacity of social media tools towards provision and dissemination of their services to users, as this capacity is still currently underutilized and that Libraries should formulate a viable Social Media Policy to guide the full integration of social media tools to the provision of library services in public libraries so as to facilitate social integration.

Text in Afrikaans
Die doel van die studie was om 'n model te ontwikkel vir openbare bibiioteekdiensiewering in 'n ontwikkelende land met 'n multikulturele samelewing. Die kernprobleem was om die teoretiese fundering van dienslewering en die toepassing daarvan in die praktyk te ondersoek. Die eerste subprobleem was om die eienskappe van 'n professie en professionele dienslewering te ondersoek. Die eienskappe van die professionalis/bibiiotekaris wat leiding aan die gebruiker moet gee, is geidentifiseer. Sleutelelemente is: outonomie (gekoppel aan deskundigheid en opieiding), 'n altruistiese diensorientasie en funksionele diens (volgens professionele riglyne en standaarde) aan alle groepe in die gemeenskap, ongeag sosiale kias. Die tweede subprobleem was om die doelstellings en funksies van die openbare biblioteek en die roi van gebruikersleiding daarin te ontleed. Daar is gevind dat diensleweringsfunksies in die teorie swak gefundeer is. 'n Kategorisering is voorgestel wat onderskei tussen ondersteuningsfunksies, diensleweringsfunksies en bestuursfunksies. Gebruikersleiding is geidentifiseer as oorkoepelende begrip en kernelement van alle diensleweringsfunksies wat gerig is op die optimalisering van die waarde van inligting tot beswil van die samelewing. Die derde subprobleem was om die ontstaan van 'n diensbegrip in die openbare biblioteek te beskryf en paradigmaverskuiwings uit te wys. Professionele riglyne, beginsels en standaarde, is ontleed. Afleidings is gemaak oor 'n heersende diensbegrip en rol van die openbare biblioteek. Daar is bevind dat die riglyne vir die identifisering van gebruikersgroepe en hulle behoeftes asook diensleweringsfunksies ontoereikend is. 'n Kategorisering van potensiele gebruikersgroepe en hul behoeftes is gedoen en 'n model vir openbare biblioteekdiensiewering ontwikkel om die leemte in teoretisering te vul. Die model onderskei 'n diensparadigma van dienslewering aan alie individue en groepe in die gemeenskap en missie van ontwikkeling; die primere doeiltelling opvoeding; beginsels van gemeenskapskontak; behoeftebepaling en toegang lot inligting; diensfunksies en uitreikaktiwiteite; die professionalis-klientverhouding; wetgewing, organisatoriese strukture en omgewingsfaktore. Die model is in 'n vraelysopname in die Suid-Afrikaanse openbare biblioteekpraktyk getoets. Daar is bevind dat die doelsteliings nagestreef en diensfunksies toegepas word. Die grootste probleme word in organisatoriese strukture en finansiering ondervind. Hierdie sake moet dringend aandag kry om die gestelde missie, naamlik om 'n wesenlike rol te speel in die ontwikkeling van die hele Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, te verwesenlik.
The purpose of the study was to develop a model for public library service rendering in a developing and multicultural society. The core problem was to investigate the theoretical foundation of service rendering and the application thereof in practice. The first subproblem was to examine the characteristics of a profession and professional service rendering. The characteristics of the professional/ librarian who has to provide guidance to the user were identified. Key elements are: autonomy (linked to expertise and training), an altruistic service orientation and functional service (according to professional guidelines and standards) to all groups in the community irrespective of social class. The second subproblem was to analyse the aims and functions of the public library and the role of user guidance in it It was found that service rendering functions are not theoretically well grounded. A categorisation is proposed which distinguishes between supporting, service rendering and management functions. User guidance is identified as an umbrella concept and core element of all service rendering functions which is directed at optima/isirtg the value of information to the benefit of society. The third subproblem was to describe the origins of a service concept in the public library and to expose paradigm shifts. Professional guidelines, principles and standards were analysed. Conclusions were drawn about a predominant service concept and the role of the public library. It was found that guidelines for the identification of user groups and their needs as well as service rendering functions are inadequate. A categorisation of potential user groups and their needs was compiled and a model for public library service rendering was developed to bridge the gap in XXtheorisation. The model distinguishes a paradigm of service to all Individuals and groups in the community and a developmental mission; the primary aim of education; service principles of community networking, needs assessment and information access; service functions and outreach activities; the professionalclient- relationship; legislation, organisational structures and environmental factors. The model was tested in South African public library practice by means of a questionnaire survey. It was found that aims are pursued and service functions are applied. The greatest problems are experienced In organisational structures and financing. These issues must be urgently addressed to realise the public library's declared mission, namely to play a substantial role in the development of the South African society as a whole.
Information Science
D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

The objective of the thesis is to describe and evaluate services of public libraries aimed at immigrants and national minorities in the Czech Republic and programs to support them. The first part defines the principal terms related to libraries and minorities. An overview of legislation follows, focused on the same topic. The third part introduces five most common national minorities and immigrant groups living in the Czech Republic. The fourth chapter describes all regional libraries in the Czech Republic, two of municipal libraries near the national border where the percentage of minorities is higher and one specialized library with a focus on their foreign- language equipment, events, meetings or exhibitions about or for national minorities or immigrants, their cooperation with various organizations, employees' interest in minorities and a possibility of registration of foreigners at libraries. Following part is about programs and projects supporting foreigners in Czech libraries. The sixth chapter describes selected organizations working in the migration field. Next is an own survey which was made in 32 public libraries in the Czech Republic. Chapter next to last describes a situation abroad, in Sweden with a focus on their Immigrant Institute. The last part is an evaluation of data about the...