Are
Public Libraries Meeting the Information Needs of English-speaking African
Immigrants?
Public Libraries Meeting the Information Needs of English-speaking African
Immigrants?
Padma
Polepeddi – padma.polepeddi@jeffcolibary.org
Polepeddi – padma.polepeddi@jeffcolibary.org
Presentations done on June 6th,
2016 and June 20th, 2016
2016 and June 20th, 2016
Highlights from the presentation-
My own immigrant experience
and how I’ve used and continue to use public libraries for my success,
empowerment and growth, my 20 years of public library experience in Chicago and
Colorado in several front-line and leadership roles working with diverse
populations fueled my passion to continue to research for ways libraries can
continue to impact lives of immigrants.
and how I’ve used and continue to use public libraries for my success,
empowerment and growth, my 20 years of public library experience in Chicago and
Colorado in several front-line and leadership roles working with diverse
populations fueled my passion to continue to research for ways libraries can
continue to impact lives of immigrants.
I received my Ph.D.
degree in Library and Information Science from Emporia State University
(Kansas) in December 2015 and my doctoral dissertation was on library hesitancy and the information
seeking behavior of English speaking African immigrants using public library
spaces. The findings from my study seek to fill gaps in the area of public
library services to English-speaking African immigrants by addressing their
information needs.
degree in Library and Information Science from Emporia State University
(Kansas) in December 2015 and my doctoral dissertation was on library hesitancy and the information
seeking behavior of English speaking African immigrants using public library
spaces. The findings from my study seek to fill gaps in the area of public
library services to English-speaking African immigrants by addressing their
information needs.
Issues
discussed:
discussed:
·
How can public library resources and/or
services meet the information literacy needs of new English-speaking African
immigrants (arrived in U. S. after 2000)?
How can public library resources and/or
services meet the information literacy needs of new English-speaking African
immigrants (arrived in U. S. after 2000)?
·
How can new African immigrants become
information literate as it is understood in the U.S.?
How can new African immigrants become
information literate as it is understood in the U.S.?
Why
should you be interested?
should you be interested?
- African-born population in the U.S. doubled
from 881,300 in 2000 to 1.6 million in 2012 (from U.S. Census Bureau –
Oct, 2014). Number of African
immigrants in Colorado nearly tripled from 9,763 in 2000 to 28,731 in
2011(from Migration Policy Institute - 2013). - Seven-in-ten Africans speak English very well
and two-fifths of African immigrants have at least a Bachelor’s
degree(from American Immigration Council report - 2007)
·
Growing
trend in English-speaking immigrants entering the U.S. prompts libraries to
look more closely at how information needs of English-speaking immigrants are
being met.
Growing
trend in English-speaking immigrants entering the U.S. prompts libraries to
look more closely at how information needs of English-speaking immigrants are
being met.
These
are the recommendations I bring to library professionals from my research
study-
are the recommendations I bring to library professionals from my research
study-
·
Public librarians must recognize that the new
immigrants experience library hesitancy - Individuals exhibit a type of
disinclination that manifests itself as a sense of false confidence based in a
belief that one has everything they need to be successful. Findings in this study suggest that this type
of disinclination is due to a feeling of self-assurance and strength.
Public librarians must recognize that the new
immigrants experience library hesitancy - Individuals exhibit a type of
disinclination that manifests itself as a sense of false confidence based in a
belief that one has everything they need to be successful. Findings in this study suggest that this type
of disinclination is due to a feeling of self-assurance and strength.
·
Public librarians may be making a big
leap in their estimation of the abilities of the English speaking Ethiopian
immigrants to understand English language and to use it to identify, or convey,
an information need.
Public librarians may be making a big
leap in their estimation of the abilities of the English speaking Ethiopian
immigrants to understand English language and to use it to identify, or convey,
an information need.
·
The reality is that the learning
abilities of the participants in my study was based on their early learning
situations in Ethiopia, which are not very effective for developing
communication tactics necessary for productive participation in jobs or careers
in a democratic society.
The reality is that the learning
abilities of the participants in my study was based on their early learning
situations in Ethiopia, which are not very effective for developing
communication tactics necessary for productive participation in jobs or careers
in a democratic society.
·
The reality also is that the
communication abilities of the participants in the study were at very
elementary levels that results in linguistic isolation from those who can
assist them in the library.
The reality also is that the
communication abilities of the participants in the study were at very
elementary levels that results in linguistic isolation from those who can
assist them in the library.
·
Public librarians must assume the
responsibilities of knowing when to stop pushing library resources and programs
to new immigrants that are designed for high functioning English speakers.
Public librarians must assume the
responsibilities of knowing when to stop pushing library resources and programs
to new immigrants that are designed for high functioning English speakers.
·
Public librarians could make use of this
study’s new description of cultural competency that addresses disparities
including: 1) varying language acquisition abilities; 2) varying educational
and cultural backgrounds; and, 3) economic stability and instability.
Public librarians could make use of this
study’s new description of cultural competency that addresses disparities
including: 1) varying language acquisition abilities; 2) varying educational
and cultural backgrounds; and, 3) economic stability and instability.
·
Public
libraries should strive to meet information literacy needs of new immigrants
once library services are re-set to correspond to the findings in this study
and to what is ahead for libraries as society becomes more diverse.
Public
libraries should strive to meet information literacy needs of new immigrants
once library services are re-set to correspond to the findings in this study
and to what is ahead for libraries as society becomes more diverse.
Comments
from library professionals who attended this presentation
from library professionals who attended this presentation
Did you find the
information relevant and useful? Most of
the information was new to me. Even with conducting the Usage study at May in
2012, the information you presented was a very different look at the way immigrants
use a library. Your personal story of
discovering libraries in Chicago, and how you interacted with retail store
staff, illustrated how revolutionary libraries are too many newcomers to the U.
S. We take libraries for granted and
assume it is our right to have them!
information relevant and useful? Most of
the information was new to me. Even with conducting the Usage study at May in
2012, the information you presented was a very different look at the way immigrants
use a library. Your personal story of
discovering libraries in Chicago, and how you interacted with retail store
staff, illustrated how revolutionary libraries are too many newcomers to the U.
S. We take libraries for granted and
assume it is our right to have them!
I also liked the discussion of expectations by
immigrants. Storytime was frivolous to
them as they had no frame of reference on different learning styles! What an eye opener for me. I hope I can phrase my questions and
information when helping patrons to improve their understanding of our
services.
immigrants. Storytime was frivolous to
them as they had no frame of reference on different learning styles! What an eye opener for me. I hope I can phrase my questions and
information when helping patrons to improve their understanding of our
services.
I was upstairs floating for part of the
afternoon after your presentation, Padma.
I was asked by a black man what he had to do to leave the library. Evidently, he thought we had to check his
bags or something. Of course I said if
he had nothing to check out he merely needed to walk out the door. This question would have surprised me much
more if I had not just attended your talk!
Thank you!
afternoon after your presentation, Padma.
I was asked by a black man what he had to do to leave the library. Evidently, he thought we had to check his
bags or something. Of course I said if
he had nothing to check out he merely needed to walk out the door. This question would have surprised me much
more if I had not just attended your talk!
Thank you!
PAMELA
BAGBY
BAGBY
LIBRARIAN
A R A P A H O E L I B R A R I E S
303-792-8999 ext. 12103
direct line 303-391-3171
What specifically
did the presenter do well?
did the presenter do well?
I really appreciated the emphasis on personal connections in
researching and coming up with solutions for serving this group and other
populations.
researching and coming up with solutions for serving this group and other
populations.
peg hooper
public services manager
public services manager
adult services
Jefferson County Public Library
8485 Kipling
Arvada, co 80005
Jefferson County Public Library
8485 Kipling
Arvada, co 80005
p 303.403.5100
f 303.403.5115
