| Summary: | Social exclusion is a problem in today’s society that we feel public libraries can help resolve since they are based on the idea of equality and openness. The purpose of this essay is to examine how public librarians think and reason about the concept “integration” as well as what role public libraries can play in immigrants’ integration process. With Jose Alberto Diaz’ theory on the integration process, and Marianne Andersson and Dorte Skot-Hansen’s model for analysis of the local library profile as theoretical framework, we analyzed the responses from two qualitative interviews in small groups of 2-3 librarians from two different public libraries. The result of this study shows that some public librarians cannot give an accurate definition of the word integration; instead they define integration as mutual respect for cultural differences. Only two librarians included in their definition that integration means to become participants in society. Despite this lack of a comprehensive understanding of the concept the librarians have a positive attitude towards the public libraries’ ability to support the integration process through book collection and program activities. The librarians think that public libraries mostly support the integration by: 1) increasing the understanding between different cultures and thereby decreasing prejudice and fear in the society (personal integration), 2) help immigrants develop a social network with the majority culture (social integration), and 3) help immigrants with language development(communicative integration). This is done mostly by focusing on the public libraries’ role of knowledge and education as well as their social role.
|
|---|
