Reading Habits, Library Perceptions and Library Usage of the South Asian Population in British Columbia, Canada

ABSTRACT

This study is the first to explore a wide gap in our understanding of the information needs, library perceptions, reading habits, library usage and barriers that prevent a growing population of South Asian users in British Columbia, Canada from visiting libraries. The results highlight the age groups of South Asian users that visit libraries frequently, reasons why respondents are more likely to visit libraries in the future, and the barriers faced by them. The outcomes of the study can help libraries to strategically discern barriers, implement and strengthen outreach programs to attract users, and recruit diverse multilingual staff.

KEYWORDS:

• Information needs
• library services
• South Asian users
• barriers
• immigrants
• newcomers
• information-seeking behaviors
• library perceptions
• underserved groups

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Diversity Research Grant sponsored by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services;American Library Association; American Library Association.

Notes on contributors

Aditi Gupta

Aditi Gupta is the Engineering & Science Librarian at the University of Victoria Libraries. She received her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of British Columbia in 2004 and has worked in libraries for over 16 years. Aditi’s research interests include diversity and inclusion in libraries, critical pedagogy and inclusive teaching practices, information literacy instruction, information-seeking behaviors of visible minorities, international students and multicultural populations. Aditi is the past recipient of the ALA Diversity Grant (2015-2016), the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute’s Collaborative Research Grant (2018-2020) and the LTSI Anti-Racism Initiative Grant.

Sarbjit Kaur Randhawa

Sarbjit Kaur Randhawa is the South Asian Studies Librarian at the University of British Columbia since 2005 where she manages the South Asian languages collections. She graduated from SLAIS, UBC with a Master in Library and Information Science (MLIS) in 2005 and has a Master in Religious Studies and M.A. in Punjabi from Guru Nanak Dev University, India. She is fluent in various South Asian Languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Nepali. Sarbjit is the recipient of the ALA Diversity Research Grant 2015-16 and the prestigious 2014 Mohinder Singh Randhawa award by Punjabi Sath Vancouver. Sarbjit’s research interests include information literacy instruction, inclusive teaching practices, library services and programs for the multicultural community.

In-In Po

In-In Po is the Assessment and Statistics Analyst at the University of Victoria Libraries. She received her Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria in 2006 and has worked in the post-secondary education environment for over 14 years. Her main areas of research interests include qualitative and quantitative assessment techniques, and the use of assessment in decision-making within the post-secondary education context.