T20: Making connections: Knowing our immigrant communities
Session Description
Generously Sponsored By: Library Services Centre
Libraries are reflective of the communities they thrive in and considering the diverse populations libraries serve, it is imperative for libraries to understand the needs of their patrons. While libraries are offering a myriad of programs to attract immigrant users, keeping abreast with the growing and revolving needs of understudied population of users can lead to wasted library efforts and resources. Libraries need to re-strategize and reconsider their services and collections by focusing their efforts on conducting assessments of patron needs.
In this session, two crucial research studies carried out at the Burnaby Public Library (BPL) and a joint collaborative study at the University of Victoria (UVic) and University of British Columbia (UBC) are presented. The first study, a research project carried out by UBC iSchool student David McAtackney under the supervision of the BPL Deputy Chief Librarian, was a survey of new immigrants in the Metrotown area of Burnaby about their information seeking behaviours - where and how were they finding information, did it satisfy their needs, and who were their most trusted sources. The study was done with the active cooperation of local settlement agencies and the results shared with all social service agencies operating in the area. The results will inform and help to improve both the library's and local agencies' ongoing provision of information and services to newcomers and potentially enhance the ways in which we cooperate with each other.
The second study, conducted by UVic librarian Aditi Gupta and UBC librarian Sarbjit Randhawa is a survey that addresses critical gaps in our understanding of the reading habits and perceptions surrounding the South Asian population's library use. The researchers are recipients of the ALA Diversity Grant. This study will help discern barriers faced by the roughly 7.2% South Asian population in BC and why they are relatively disengaged or disinterested in libraries. Findings presented will highlight strategies to attract South Asians to the library, tools to build collections, and implement and revamp programs based on survey results that are aimed at serving the South Asian population.
Speakers
Deb Thomas, Burnaby Public Library
Biography
Deb Thomas has worked in libraries for over 40 years. She was Chief Librarian of the Nelson Municipal Library from 1988 to 2006 and has been with Burnaby Public Library since 2006. She is currently Deputy Chief Librarian and Branch Manager of the Bob Prittie Metrotown branch. She works in one of the Canada's most diverse cities where no one language or ethnicity holds a majority and over 100 languages are spoken. She recently worked with UBC iSchool student David McAtackney to survey new immigrants in the Metrotown area of Burnaby about their information seeking behaviours.
Aditi Gupta, University of Victoria Libraries
Biography
Aditi Gupta is currently a Librarian at the University of Victoria Libraries. Prior to this, she worked at BPL and VPL since 2006. She has a keen interest in diversity issues in libraries. She has served on several BCLA conference committees, as a mentor for the BCLA mentorship program, and is involved in the Visible Minority Librarians of Canada network. She is a recipient of the ALA 2015 Diversity grant and is Chair of the CLA Library Research and Development Grants. Having worked in both academic and public libraries, she enjoys working with a diverse group of people.
Sarbjit Randhawa, Asian Library, University of British Columbia
Biography
Sarbjit Randhawa is an Indic Librarian at the Asian Library, University of British Columbia, and has been working with VPL and BPL as well. She has three master degrees including MLIS, master in Religious studies, and master in Punjabi. She graduated from SLAIS, UBC in 2005. She is an active member of ALA, CRL, CONSALD, and SAMP.