Significance/relevance

The pilot study described in the poster is part of a programme of doctoral research. This pilot is intended to examine the cultural aspects of information needs, seeking, searching, use, and sharing for international students who are new-comers to another culture. Drawing on the work of Shoham and Rabinovich (2008), for the purposes of this project ‘culture’ comprises the values systems, patterns of behaviour, and accepted norms derived from historical traditions and passed down to the next generation within a group. Researchers have shown that multiple influences shape information behaviour, including direct influences such as family and trusted information sources, and indirect influences such as political landscapes or social media (Jaeger and Burnett, 2010; Pendleton and Chatman, 1998; Peterson, 2014). It has also been suggested that an individual’s cultural background may influence resource use, including information (Kitayama and Uskul, 2011).

Culture can be divided broadly into Western, typically referring to Europe, Australia, and North-America, and non-Western, typically referring to all other countries (Lillard, 1998; Tsai et al., 2006). In many Western countries, access to information through the public library is a basic right, regardless of socio-economic status, age, sex, or culture (ALA, 2016; CILIP, 2015). While Western countries have many public libraries committed to providing resources to communities, some non-Western cultures have different views regarding the purpose of public libraries, e.g., who can use them, and how to use them (Audunson et al., 2011). This may influence non-Western individuals’ public library use while in Western countries.

There is a large body of research on the information behaviour of new-comers (Borkert et al., 2018; Caidi et al., 2010; Hassan and Wolfram, 2019; Lingel, 2011). There is also research on public library use by new-comer populations (Burke, 2008; Fisher et al., 2004). However, little extant research considers how the culture of new-comers influences their information behaviour within the public library. These might include the value placed on information, trusted information sources, and acceptable information behaviour. Oh and Butler (2019) note that global movement and numbers of international students have been rising steadily over the past few years. As such, it is important that public libraries are prepared to serve possible new-comer communities effectively. There are constraints on the services public library staff are able to provide specific populations e.g., time, money. However, understanding the factors that influence decisions to use certain resources can help library staff make cost-efficient choices. Using international students as participants in a study such as this has limitations, not least because they have ready access to academic libraries and atypical needs when compared with other new-comer populations. However, there are also advantages to having international students as participants. This research goes beyond consideration of more obvious services provision, such as help with host country language skills (because international students have strong host country language skills). International students are also an accessible sample for a pilot study such as this, and may provide valuable information on the validity of research tools.

Content

Background

Cultural factors may have an influence on individuals’ behaviour (Kitayama and Uskul, 2011). There is research on the information behaviours of new-comers and research on public library use by new-comers (Borkert et al., 2018; Fisher et al., 2004). However, little extant research considers how the culture of new-comers influences their information behaviours within the public library.

Research questions

The aim of the pilot study is to provide insight into how cultural factors influence the public library use of international students. The following research questions of the pilot study ) will be included in this section:

1. How do international students of non-Western background use public libraries during their period of study in a Western country?
2. Which cultural factors influence use of public library resources?
3. How do cultural factors that influence public library use vary by geographical region of country of origin of the international student?

Anticipated contribution

It is expected that results will provide further insight into why certain public library resources are used over others by international students. This may inform further research on public library resource use in new-comer populations. (At the time of the submission of the abstract this work is in progress and not yet completed.).

Methodology

A mixed methods approach that comprises that analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires is deployed in the study. In terms of theoretical underpinning, this work draws on Jaeger and Burnett’s (2010) theory of information worlds. The theory of information worlds posits that an individual’s information behaviour is based largely on societal elements such as norms, roles of actors, and information values (Jaeger and Burnett, 2010). Such societal elements are related to an individual’s culture (Peterson, 2014). For the study, participants are recruited through a snowball method. All participants fill out a questionnaire that includes the following sections of questions: public library use, culture, and demographics. Select participants that indicate willingness to be contacted for follow-up interviews will be interviewed. These semi-structured interviews build on themes revealed by the questionnaire.

Literature cited

This section will contain a reference list of all literature cited in previous sections. Citations of research on culture (e.g. Kitayama and Uskul, 2011), and the information behaviours of new-comers in public libraries (e.g. Borkert et al., 2018; Fisher et al., 2004) will be included.

Additional information

Information on supporters of the research is given alongside main research contact details (email, website, PhD blog and Twitter feed).

Conclusion

This poster concerns a pilot study that investigates the cultural factors that influence public library use within a population of international students. The results of the pilot study, which contributes to a larger doctoral research, will assist in decision-mailing related to serving new-comer public library populations.

About the author

Rachel Salzano is a doctoral student within the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland. She holds a MLIS from San Jose State University, United States, and a BSc (Honors) in Psychology: Mind, Brain, and Behaviour from Colorado State University, United States. Her research interests include information behaviour or practice with a focus on library resource use and public libraries. She blogs at http://www.librariansanslibrary.weebly.com and can be contacted at r.salzano@napier.ac.uk. Her mailing address is School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK.
Hazel Hall is Professor of Social Informatics within the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, and Docent in Information Studies at Åbo Akademi University, Finland. She holds a PhD in Computing from Napier University, an MA in Library and Information Studies from the University of Central England, and a BA (Spec Hons) in French from the University of Birmingham. Her research interests include information sharing in online environments, knowledge management, social computing/media, online communities and collaboration, library and information science research, and research impact. She blogs at http://hazelhall.org and can be contacted at h.hall@napier.ac.uk. Her mailing address is School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK.
Gemma Webster is a Lecturer in Creative and Social Informatics within the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University. She holds a PhD in HCI, and a BSc (Hons) in Computing for Business from the University of Dundee. Gemma’s principle research interests lie in the field of human computer interaction with a focus on culture, health care, older adults, community and assistive technologies. She can be contacted at g.webster@napier.ac.uk, School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK.

How to cite this paper