A presentation for a poster based on a pilot study presented at the Information Seeking in Context (ISIC) 2020 conference.

1. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CULTURE AND PUBLIC LIBRARY USE:
NON-WESTERN STUDENTS IN
SCOTLAND
Rachel Salzano
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

2. Researcher Introduction
■ Rachel Salzano - PhD Student
■ Hazel Hall – Director of Studies
■ Gemma Webster – Supervisor
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

3. Culture
■ A population’s values systems, patterns of
behaviours, and accepted norms derived
from historical traditions and passed from
one generation to the next
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

4. Topic Background
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon
■ Information behaviours tied to culture
(e.g. Kitayama & Uskul, 2011)
■ Increased global movement
■ Purpose of public libraries (e.g.
Audunson et al., 2011)

5. Culture and Resource Use
■ Research on information behaviours
(e.g. Borkert et al., 2018)
■ Research on public library use (e.g.
Fisher et al., 2004)
■ Little consideration of culture
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

6. Research Questions
1.How do international students of non-Western
background use public libraries during their period of
study in a Western country?
2.Which cultural factors influence use of public library
resources?
3.How do cultural factors that influence public library
use vary by geographical region of country of origin
of the international student?
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

7. Methodology
■ Online Questionnaire
■ Follow-up Interviews
■ Recruitment
– Social Media
– Slack
– E-mail
– SGSSS Social
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

8. Limitations
■ Fully digital
■ Participant reliance on academic
libraries
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

9. Analysis
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon
■ Frequency Measures
■ Thematic Analysis

10. Preliminary Findings
■ Accessibility
■ Economic Status
■ Social Status
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

11. Conclusions
■ Analysis ongoing
■ Accessibility
■ Economic Status
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

12. References:
Aabø S., & Audunson, R. (2012). Use of library space and the library as place. Library &
InformationScience Research, 34(2), 138-149.
Audunson, R., Essmat, S., & Aabø, S. (2011) Public libraries: a meeting place for immigrant
women? Library and Information Science Research, 33, 220 – 227.
Berger, Å. (2002). Recent trends in library services for ethnic minorities - the Danish
experience. Library Management, 23(1/2), 79-87.
Burke, S. (2008). Public library resources used by immigrant households. Public Libraries,
July/August, 32 – 41.
Fisher, K.E., Durrance, J.C., & Hinton, M.B. (2004). Information grounds and the use of
need-based services by immigrants in Queens, NewYork: a context-based outcome
evaluation approach. Journal of the AmericanSociety for Information Science and
Technology, 55(8), 754 – 766.
Hassan, M.D., &Wolfram, D. (2019).A study of the information behaviors ofAfrican
refugees. IConference 2019 Proceedings, IConference 2019 Proceedings
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

13. References:
Johnston, J. (2016).Conversation-based programming and newcomer integration: a case
study of the Språkhörnan program at MalmöCity Library. Library and InformationScience
Research, 38(1), 10-17.
Johnston, J. (2018).The use of conversation-based programming in public libraries to
support integration in increasingly multiethnic societies. Journal of Librarianship and
InformationScience., 50(2), 130-140.
Khosrowjerdi, M., Sundqvist, A., & Byström, K. (2020). Cultural patterns of information
source use: A global study of 47 countries. Journal of the Association for Information
Science andTechnology, 71(6), 711 – 724.
Linden, K., Bartlett, J., & Beheshti, J. (2014). New immigrants’ perceptions and awareness
of public library services. The CanadianJournal of Information and LibraryScience, 38(2), 65
– 79.
Lloyd,A. (2017). Researching fractured (information) landscapes. Journal of
Documentation, 73(1), 35-47.
Lloyd,A., Kennan, M.,Thompson, K., & Qayyum, A. (2013). Connecting with new
information landscapes: information literacy practices of refugees. Journal of
Documentation, 69(1), 121-144.
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon

14. References:
Oh, C. & Butler, B. (2019). Small worlds in a distant land: international newcomer students'
local information behaviors in unfamiliar environments. Journal of the Association for
InformationScience andTechnology, 70(10), 1060-1073.
Vårheim,A. (2011). Gracious space: Library programming strategies towards immigrants
as tools in the creation of social capitol. Library and Information Science Research, 33, 12 –
18.
Image Credits:
"Stratford Public Library" by Government of Prince Edward Island is licensed under CC BY-
NC-ND 2.0
“Fountainbridge Public Library” byThe Edinburgh Reporter
“Edinburgh Central Library” by 1001 Libraries to See BeforeYou Die
r.salzano@napier.ac.uk Rachel Salzano @librarygryphon