Understand global perspectives on effective information practices that are supportive of cultural, economic, educational, or social well-being.
Introduction
There is no doubt that the world is becoming more connected. The internet has allowed an explosion of ideas and connections between peoples of all nations. Information professionals have a responsibility to respect diversifying patron populations and to use the new international network to find innovative solutions to local problems. By building a strong diverse network one is exposed to the ideas to help bring 21st century library services into reality.
Diverse citizenry
A library patron is more likely to be more diverse and have access to more diverse views than in the past. A more diverse population comes from the general increase in diversity and immigration seen in the United States and the increase in leisure and business travel. According to the 2020 census data, diversity is increasing in almost every county in the country (New York Times, 2021). The percentage of citizens who identify solely as white has fallen 8.6% from the last census in 2010. The percentage of individuals who identified as Asian saw the highest increase and also noted a lessening of the concentration in specific geographical areas. Those who identify as Asian are increasingly found in the midwest and southern cities of the United States instead of primarily coastal cities (Gebeloff, Lu, Jordan, 2021). The total amount of money spent on leisure travel worldwide has gradually risen from 1.9 billion in 2000 to 4.6 billion in 2019 (Statista Research Department, 2021). This trend in travel almost guarantees that the average patron is more exposed to world cultures than in the past.
Information professionals need to understand the increasing diversity in patron populations and adjust their library practice accordingly. This adjustment extends to all aspects of library functions. Collections need to be expanded to include diverse world views, programming needs to respond to immigrant patron needs, and communication channels adjusted to reflect multiple languages. The most obvious issue can be the increase of languages in which a library communicates with patrons. No more can it be assumed that a newsletter in English will suffice. More complex is working with others who may have “traditional modes of politeness and interactions” that are different from our own (Ford, 2018, P. 274). One cannot understate how simple assumptions can muddy patron interactions.
International Solutions
This ability to be connected to information around the world offers a librarian access to new ideas to solve local issues. The role of an information professional worldwide encompasses many of the same core functions and values. By connecting with libraries world-wide a librarian will be able to leverage solutions to common challenges and bring these solutions to one’s own library. The hyperlinked library MOOC initiative started by Dr. Michael Stephens and Kyle Jones at SJSU is one such example of a program that seeks to connect innovative international libraries (Holmquist, 2018, P. 375). Stephens (2018, P. 184) offers the Hyperlinked Library as one such model that encourages libraries the opportunity to look “outside of their national boundaries to seek inspiration and support”.
Competency development
Much of my thinking around global perspectives comes from my personal experience living abroad for five years. I moved with my husband to the Haute-Savior region of France when I was 24 years old. This experience of living full time in another culture taught me so much that now instructs much of my professional philosophy. Specifically, giving birth to two of my children showed me how a universal experience can be treated completely differently in different cultures.The different ways were both equally valid.
During this time, I worked at an organization that boasted over 100 different nationalities in our 500+ person group. Working with this very diverse group of people allowed me to see the way that culture played out in many different circumstances. Even though my family had immigrated legally, I also experienced the general distrust and discrimination reserved for foreigners. Each of these experiences increased my empathy and understanding of the benefits and challenges of diversity.
Evidence Description
INFO 287 – Listening Station Director’s Brief
In this project I relied on the example set by the Library in Denmark as a model for the Listening Station project. I also incorporated my own experience with oral histories from my visit to Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation Musée de Lyon.
INFO 200 – Information Seeking Model Comparison with International Implications Discussion
I chose this discussion post to demonstrate my understanding of the limitations these information seeking models have when considered in regards to students in other societal structures. These societal influences are often overlooked by researchers or program designers not familiar the cultural norms of nonwestern cultures.
INFO 210 – Programming as Reference
In this program proposal I use my own international experiences to inform public library programming useful to patrons new to the community. This programming would be a practical way to reach new community patrons and could be tailored to any library district.
Concluding Remarks
Living and working as an immigrant in another country has profoundly altered the way that I practice librarianship by making me hyper sensitive to the immigrant experience and recognizing the many different solutions to common issues. Information professionals need to respond the the growing diversity within their patron communities by adjusting collections, programming, and communication strategies. By exploring other international libraries, information professionals can leverage novel solutions to issues seen worldwide. The more that information professionals connect globally the more responsive they can be to a more diverse citizenry.
References
Gebeloff, R., Lu, E., Jordan, M. (August 21, 2021). Inside the diverse and growing asian population in the U.S. Accessed on September 11, 2013 at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/21/us/asians-census-us.html?searchResultPosition=1
Holmquist, J. (2018). Global learning networks. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services today: An introduction (pp. 374-380). Rowman & Littlefield.
New York Times. (August 13, 2021). The Morning Newsletter. Accessed on September 11, 2021 at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/13/briefing/census-2020-diversity-united-states.html.
Statista Research Department. (April 8, 2021). Leisure tourism spending worldwide from 2000 to 2020. Accessed on September 11, 2021 at statista.com/statistics/1093335/leisure-travel-spending-worldwide/
Stephens, M. (2018.) Hyperlinked Libraries. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services today: An introduction (pp. 184-191). Rowman & Littlefield.
United States Census Bureau. (August 12, 2021). 2020 Census Statistics Highlight Local Population Changes and Nation’s Racial and Ethnic Diversity. Accessed on September 11, 2021 at https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/population-changes-nations-diversity.html
Last updated October 17, 2021 9:18 AM.
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