“Everybody Thinks Public Libraries Have Only Books”: Public Library Usage and Settlement of Bangladeshi Immigrants in Canada

ABSTRACT

Many public libraries in Canada offer services and programs for immigrants, including employment assistance to assist newcomers with their settlement in Canada. Using a mixed method research design, this study explores the use of public libraries by Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada including their use of public library settlement services, along with their pre-migration access to public library services. The study finds immigrants’ use of public libraries declines over time. However, it is also evident in this study that public libraries played a positive role in newcomers’ settlement into Canadian society. The findings related to the lack of familiarity with public libraries in a pre-arrival context highlight the importance of having a strong public library outreach program for immigrant populations. The author urges public libraries offering services to immigrants to make meaningful partnerships with pre-and post-arrival settlement agencies, local ethnic community and religious organizations, and ethnic media to spread the word about public library programs and services for immigrants.

KEYWORDS:

• Public libraries
• immigrants
• settlement
• library outreach
• library partnership

Acknowledgement

The author thanks two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggested edits that greatly contributed to improving the paper. Many thanks to Dr. Paulette Rothbauer of Western University, Canada for her critical read and comments on the paper. The author would also like to express his gratitude to the participants of this study without whom this study would not have been possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge is run in the US and Canada by 1000 BOOKS FOUNDATION, a Nevada 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. One of the core missions of the foundation is “to promote reading to newborns, infants, and toddlers.” Please visit https://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/ to learn more about their program.

2. This study was approved by Western’s Non-Medical Human Research Ethics Board (semi-structured interviews were approved on May 24, 2017, and the surveys were approved on December 13, 2017).

3. In this study, pseudonyms were used along with participants’ actual place of residence and year of arrival to Canada. For interviews conducted in English, the word “English” was used in the bracket next to the participants’ names.

4. Although not all branches of the Toronto Public Library have textbooks and curriculum-related resources on every discipline, Toronto Public Library does collect textbooks and curriculum-related books when deemed essential to a library collection. Please check https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/terms-of-use/library-policies/materials-selection-policy.jsp for materials selection policy of Toronto Public Library.

5. Funded by the Government of Canada, Planning for Canada provides services to economic and family class immigrants to Canada in pre-arrival context. Please visit https://www.planningforcanada.ca/ to learn more about Planning for Canada.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nafiz Zaman Shuva

Dr. Nafiz Zaman Shuva is an assistant professor (Limited Duties) in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University, London, Canada. He received his Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from Western University. His research interests include migration, information behavior, public libraries, social media, open access, and social justice and equity issues in LIS.