Auckland libraries as a multicultural bridge in New Zealand. Perceptions of new immigrant library users
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-04-2019-0046 |
| Published date | 02 September 2019 |
| Date | 02 September 2019 |
| Pages | 581-600 |
| Author | Wei Xia Lin,Eric Boamah |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Auckland libraries as a
multicultural bridge in
New Zealand
Perceptions of new immigrant library users
Wei Xia Lin and Eric Boamah
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this researchis to explore how immigrant library users view Auckland Libraries
as a multiculturalbridge in New Zealand. The research explored the various factors keepingdifferent cultures
apart in the New Zealand socio cultural systems and to find out the gaps in the provision of multicultural
services in Auckland public libraries. The study also discusses the specific roles Auckland public libraries
play in the developmentof multiculturalism in New Zealand from the perspective of immigrantusers.
Design/methodology/approach –The study uses a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured
interviews conductedwith 15 participants including five librarystaff members and ten users of the Auckland
library. Thematic analysis(qualitative data analysis, where data is grouped into themes)was used for data
analysis.
Findings –Participants perceive that the Auckland Library had an advantage over other citizen service
institutions in the development and services of multiculturalism in New Zealand. The participants understand
that language, cultural background, beliefs and values are some of the causes of gaps between different ethnic
groups, and only by learning from each other can groups enhance mutual understanding between them. The
services and programs Auckland Library offer to immigrant enable various interactions among different cultural
groups and enhance learning from one another to facilitate their integration into the New Zealand society. The
findings show that Auckland public libraries have some gaps in multicultural services. In particular, there are
more than 200 different ethnicities in Auckland, but the Auckland library’s website does not have the function of
a multilingual search tab service, lacks a multicultural book collection and some of the existing collections of
books are of low quality, low literary value and so on. The study suggests that these issues need to be improved.
Research limitations/implications –This was small-scaleresearch involving the perspectives of only
15 participants. Nevertheless,the findings provide constructive insightinto the development of multicultural
services in Auckland libraries that can serveas a useful basis for a broader exploration of more immigrant
groups in Aucklandand New Zealand as a whole.
Practical implications –The results of this research will providevaluable information for the Auckland
libraries to have a better plan for multicultural services in the future. The findings will also serve as a
referencefor improving multicultural services in the Auckland libraries.
Originality/value –Although other studies have looked at immigrants’behavior and perception on
various issues in New Zealand, this study is the first to look at how different immigrant groups percept
Aucklandlibraries as a multicultural bridge to help integrate them.
Keywords Perceptions, Library users, Immigrants, New Zealand, Auckland libraries,
Multicultural bridge
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In the past decade, New Zealand has seen a large number of new immigrants coming into
the country. Most of these newcomersare concentrated in Auckland.
Perceptions of
new
immigrant
library users
581
Received2 April 2019
Revised10 May 2019
Accepted30 May 2019
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.68 No. 6/7, 2019
pp. 581-600
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-04-2019-0046
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2514-9342.htm
Auckland is a culturally and ethnically diverse city. Its population represents more than 200
different ethnicities and 39.1 per cent of Auckland residents were born overseas (over half a
million people) (Gooder, 2017).
However, most immigrants face problems of how to adapt to local languages, native
cultures, and customs of New Zealand. Most immigrants are eagerto learn the new culture
and want help to integrate intoNew Zealand society as soon as they can. Especially in New
Zealand which is a country of immigrants, there are many people from different countries.
Because of the different living environments and cultural backgrounds, there will be a
certain gap between ethnic groups, e.g. the differences between eastern and western
cultures, and so on. If these barrierscannot be communicated well, it will cause disharmony
and even misunderstandings among people and may be the cause for serious social
problems. So, a bridge of communicationis needed to enable different groups to live together
harmoniously.
Although different kinds of institutions in New Zealand help immigrants to integrate well into the
society, including Citizens Advice Bureau, Chinese New Settlers Services Trust, Connecting
Cultures, Red Cross, Refugee Health Service, Auckland Regional Migrant services, just to mention
a few (CareersNZ, 2016).
The public library plays an important role in helping new immigrants connect easily into
the society. Society has expectations for public libraries, the public libraries are not only a
place where people borrow and read books, and they should also be a bridge for
multiculturalism. However,the Auckland public libraries appear inadequate in terms of the
provision of effectivemulticultural services for all immigrants.
The purpose of this researchis to explore how immigrants view Auckland Libraries as a
multicultural bridgein New Zealand.
What multicultural services do Auckland Libraries offer for immigrants?
How do immigrant library users perceive Auckland Libraries as a multicultural
bridge in New Zealand?
Using these two main questionsas the basis, this study explores and discusses other specific
questions relating to immigrants and Auckland libraries to guide the research. Someof the
questions boarded on the importance of Auckland public libraries to the community and
they provide useful informationand services to help immigrants to adapt to NewZealand as
their new country. Other questions also focusedon the reasons why immigrants visit public
libraries in New Zealandand an understanding of the factors that make the variouscultures
from which these immigrantscome different or separate from one another. Another area we
found interesting to ask questions about focused on the roles public libraries play as a
multicultural bridge. Since this area was the main thrustof the study, attempts were made
to also ask questions to understand the main issues affecting multicultural services in
Auckland public libraries. Furthermore, efforts were made to understand specific elements
that can serve as useful links to connect the various cultures into a unified multicultural
group in New Zealand and the various ways Auckland libraries are viewed as the
multicultural bridgeto connect various cultural groups together.
The significance of this research is to provide valuable insights into the Auckland
library’s services to different ethnic groups. The various perceptions by the immigrants
provide useful information that can guide Auckland libraries, and New Zealand public
libraries at large, in their planning of multicultural services and programs. The issues and
gaps identified through the findings of this study will serve as a reference point for
improving current and future multicultural services in New Zealand public libraries as a
GKMC
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