Transcript Utrecht - Local policy challenges

Cultural diversity
How public libraries can serve
the diversity in the community
Good practice on 4 continents
ALIA
September, 2004
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Authors
• Deborah Jacobs, Seattle, USA (www.spl.org)
• Jens Ingemann Larsen, Herning, Denmark (www.herningbib.dk)
• Ton van Vlimmeren, Utrecht, Netherlands (www.gbu.nl)
• ”Cultural Diversity: How Public Libraries Can Serve the Diversity
in the Community”, 2004 (English, German, Dutch, Spanish)
• http://www.internationales-netzwerk.de/en/x_media/
pdf/cultural_diversity_040217.pdf
•
Members of International Network of Public Libraries
of the Bertelsmann Foundation
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PLIN
• Since 2004: Public Libraries International
Network: PLIN
• Innovative solutions by practitioners for
practitioners, pooling international know-how
and developing model concepts.
• Key audience: Library directors and decision
makers in the field
• Project information and research papers are
available for free download from
www.public-libraries.net
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I´m from the Netherlands
• Kingdom: Queen Beatrix
• Size: 41.000 km2
• Inhabitants: 16.200.000
• 12% non-Dutch origin
• Income per capita: € 24.000
• Utrecht: heart of the country
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Utrecht
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Utrecht
Characteristics
• Historical city: > 2000 years
• Growing size & number: 275.000>350.000
• 25% non- Dutch origin ( > 33%)
• Engine of the economy: 3rd in Europe
• Center of knowledge
• Facing big-city challenges
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Before we get started ...
• What has this to do with me?
• Nothing about them without them...
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Why is this an important issue?
• Immigration and cultural diversity is everywhere
• Any public library should by definition try to meet
the needs of its patrons – including minority
groups
• Local societies will gain if all parts of the
community have access to knowledge and
information - and if they take part in local
democracy
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Iraqi best surgeon-trainee
• “He taught himself Dutch-language in the
public library…
Utrechts Nieuwsblad, april 4 2002
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Library benefits
• In Toronto the use of the library by
nonnative Canadians “more than doubles
the use by those born in Canada”.
Library Journal, june 1, 2003
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Roles for libraries
Libraries enable:
– enjoy their own culture: collections
– keep in touch with the homeland
– learn mother-tongue of parents
– learning new countries language (2nd language)
– find the way in (new) society: community
information
– informing all groups about other groups cultures
– provide a stage for cultural activities
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Main factors (1)
Organisation and management:
• who takes the initial initiative
• from outside / inside the organisation
• a devoted staff member/ the library director
• project organisation / ordinary routines
• decision / ”coincidence”
Staffing:
• composition should reflect diversity of customers
• an ideal, but language problems etc.
• pay based on personal qualifications (i.e.:
language capability) rather than formal
• education, training, volunteers?
• cultural ”understanding”
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Main factors (2)
Financing
• project money / ordinary funding,
• temporary / permanent staff,
• funding models (mixture of local / federal / state
money)
Collectioning
• materials selection, acquisition, cataloging,
weeding of collection
• language capabilities and availability
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Main factors (3)
Services and programming
• programs for ethnic minorities - or about them?
• co-operation with other public and private
institutions
Promoting the library, outreach to users
• translation of information
• online, integrated in activities, information
through existing information channels in the
community
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Main factors (4)
Networks and consortial arrangements
• joint financing of core institutions, interlibrary
loans, cross-training, joint cataloguing
• standards are a ”must”
Facility design
• signage, art, design in welcoming colours
• or a ”neutral” design to suit all kinds of users?
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Public libraries – integrated in local society
• Public libraries are no islands
• Local and national view on immigrants / ethnic
minorities will be reflected when public libraries
decide what to do in this field
• Immigrants - a ”burden” for taxpayers or a
possible source to more growth and increased
welfare in society?
• Assimilation or cultural diversity?
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Can public libraries make a difference??
• Public libraries are open institutions – meant to
be used by all citizens - meeting places for all
• If the library uses its potential, and offers
activities and programs that help to integrate
and educate various ethnic groups in local
society, it may well be seen as a more vital
institution and part of local society than ever
before!
• So what to do?
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Some conclusions
• Take leadership
• Seek political approval
• Support dedicated staff
• Focus on local information needs
• Seek collaboration with user groups
• Institutionalize services and projects
• Learn from others; identify partners
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Some good practices
(english websites)
• Brisbane (Australia) http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
• Brooklyn (USA) www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org
• Queens (USA) www.queenslibrary.org
• Toronto (Canada) http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/
• Stockholm (Sweden) http://www.ssb.stockholm.se/
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Guidelines
ALA:
http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/
mouss/moussection/mousscomm/spanishspeaking/guide
linesmultilingual.htm
IFLA:
http://www.ifla.org/VII/s32/pub/guide-e.htm
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For every complex problem
there is bright solution
that is simple, elegant and wrong
Thank you
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If immigration is to be a success,
institutions like libraries have
to make it work.”
Jane Pyper, Toronto Public Library
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