Reading

– what to purchase and why?

Ingrid Atlestam & Randi Myhre

Gothenburg 14 August 2010

– what to purchase and why?

A study of how immigrants use the public

library, by Ann-Christin Brunnström,

Gothenburg City Library

”More for useful purposes than pleasure”

(Mer nytta än nöje, 2006)

Methodology

• Study of stocks and statistics on

media loans in 12 languages at the

public libraries in Gothenburg

• Focus group study: ”What is important to

make the library a good library for you and

your family and friends?” (N=154)

Results

1. Easy access to reading materials:

What matters is what the visitors find on

the library shelves.

It is a priority to establish extensive and

updated media stocks in as many

languages as possible in the local

libraries.

2. It is important to find immigrants among

the library staff.

• It has a symbolic value.

• It gives a greater sense of security.

3. Purchase of second language learning media is top priority.

Materials in easy Swedish for school assignments are requested.

Pedagogical support is needed. Good practice exmple: the learning environment One step further

4. Supply newspapers and magazines in

different languages for newcomers,

women and youth. Most users today are

elderly men.

5. It is important to purchase literature in the

mother tongue.

Literature from and about the home

country is interpreted as a sign of respect.

Keep in mind the small publishing houses

in countries of exile.

6. For children, primers, schoolbooks and

non-fiction in different languages are

important, not only fiction.

Cultural activities for children in the mother

tongue are requested.

Good practice examples are found at:

www.librariesforall.eu

7. Non-fiction for adults in different

languages is requested:

• ”Everyday life handbooks”

• Schoolbooks, textbooks

• Civic information

• English language learning media

8. Leisure reading in the mother tongue is

mostly requested by well established

residents

9. It is important that the library offers

• inviting premises

• a calm and quiet environment

• study places

• computer access

• access to newspapers

• copy, print, scan and fax facilities

Conclusions and suggestions

A. Engage in dialogue with users

Set up local multicultural advisory boards

with librarians and residents

• For developing library services, activities

and events together

• For reaching target groups

• For new purchases and weeding

(www.librariesforall.eu)

B. Two main patterns of library

usage

• Well-established residents ->

cultural purposes, borrow mostly fiction

• Newcomers -> integration purposes,

borrow mostly non-fiction

Prioritize newcomers’ needs of non-fiction

C. Pedagogical task

Show resources available online such as

dictionaries, language courses, translation

tools, newspapers etc

Improve marketing of educational services

and activities, such as basic computer

courses, homework support, language

support and conversational groups

D. Collection management

• Examine how the stocks in different languages are used for evidence-based decision making for new media purchases in relation to the changing demographic situation.

• Adopt focus groups and user satisfaction surveys targeting immigrants for fine-tuning evaluation and planning of library services

E. Improve national/supranational

support of library services for

immigrants

Local libraries need assistance

• Reliable sources and channels for

purchase

• Skills and networks for good library service

in multiple languages

Time for questions!

Thank you for your attention!

Thank you to our interpreters!

Welcome to visit:

http://mangsprak.ning.com/

http://www.librariesforall.eu