Investigation into public library services for new migrants to New Zealand

Abstract

The large influx of immigrants to New Zealand in the past decade has contributed to a rapid change in the ethnic and cultural composition of our society. This social change has significant implications for the public library service in the way it defines its role and structures services to meet the needs of these emerging immigrant communities. A qualitative study was conducted to investigate how New Zealand's public libraries develop services and resources to meet the needs of new rrilgrants. Managers and ethnic services librarians of nine library networks operating in ethnically diverse communities were interviewed in order to provide a view from within the library service. The results of the study indicated that the extent to which the libraries had developed services and resources for new rrilgrants was variable. Greater work is required in the areas of policy development, engagement with immigrant communities and the sharing of best practice procedures if New Zealand's public libraries are to become more inclusive of and relevant to new migrants.