Volume 25, Issue 4 (12-2019)
Research on Information Science and Public Libraries 2019, 25(4): 673-700 |
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Zardari S, atapour H, Majidi A, Akbarnejad R. The Barriers to Provision of Public Library Services to Ethnic and Minority Groups in Multicultural Societies Based on Global Experiences. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries 2019; 25 (4) :673-700
URL: http://publij.ir/article-1-2163-en.html
URL: http://publij.ir/article-1-2163-en.html
university of tabriz , hashematapour@tabrizu.ac.ir
Abstract: (4712 Views)
Purpose: This study systematically reviews the original research works in the field of public library services to ethnic and minority groups from various aspects. According to this goal and based on the relevant literature, the barriers of library services to ethnic and minority groups as well as the strategies to address those barriers have been presented.
Method: This is an applied research in terms of purpose which has been conducted based on the Prisma guidelines. To collect the relevant literature, subject keywords were searched into several known scientific databases, through which 314 documents in English were retrieved. By applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, all documents were examined, from whom repeated or irrelevant ones were omitted. Finally, 40 original research works were chosen for further analysis.
Findings: The review of literature showed that most studies on the provision of public libraries services to ethnic and minority groups have been carried out in the Western world using various tools and users’ surveys. Totally 17 barriers were identified, which fall into 4 main categories including: “management-related Barriers”, “perceptual and communication barriers”, “environment-related barriers”, and “barriers related to the nature of minority communities”. To address these barriers, 20 strategies have been suggested in the reviewed research works. Recruitment of staff who are familiar with the culture and language of ethnic and minority groups, professional development of staff, developing collection which is culturally sensitive, and library marketing and publicity are the most important strategies to achieve success in providing services in a multicultural society.
Originality/value: The review of internal and external information resources showed that no systematic review has already been conducted on the public library services to ethnic and minority groups in multicultural societies. Therefore, in order to have a general picture of the services offered in multicultural societies, a systematic review of original research works is essential, which the current research has embarked on.
Method: This is an applied research in terms of purpose which has been conducted based on the Prisma guidelines. To collect the relevant literature, subject keywords were searched into several known scientific databases, through which 314 documents in English were retrieved. By applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, all documents were examined, from whom repeated or irrelevant ones were omitted. Finally, 40 original research works were chosen for further analysis.
Findings: The review of literature showed that most studies on the provision of public libraries services to ethnic and minority groups have been carried out in the Western world using various tools and users’ surveys. Totally 17 barriers were identified, which fall into 4 main categories including: “management-related Barriers”, “perceptual and communication barriers”, “environment-related barriers”, and “barriers related to the nature of minority communities”. To address these barriers, 20 strategies have been suggested in the reviewed research works. Recruitment of staff who are familiar with the culture and language of ethnic and minority groups, professional development of staff, developing collection which is culturally sensitive, and library marketing and publicity are the most important strategies to achieve success in providing services in a multicultural society.
Originality/value: The review of internal and external information resources showed that no systematic review has already been conducted on the public library services to ethnic and minority groups in multicultural societies. Therefore, in order to have a general picture of the services offered in multicultural societies, a systematic review of original research works is essential, which the current research has embarked on.
Keywords: Public libraries, Services, Multicultural societies, Ethnicity, Minorities, Systematic review
Type of Study: qualitative |
Subject:
Libraries Services for Special Groups
Received: 2019/10/2 | Accepted: 2019/12/1 | Published: 2020/03/14
Received: 2019/10/2 | Accepted: 2019/12/1 | Published: 2020/03/14
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