Libraries and Multicultural Services (5cr)

Objective

After the course the student is able to describe the multicultural issues of a public library and an academic library. S/he is able to list services that are necessary to a multicultural library. The student is able to name the international library organisations and to briefly describe their main tasks in the library field. S/he is able to explain the qualities needed when working with multicultural and inter-cultural issues in the library branch.

Content

- Multicultural issues in a public library and in an academic library
- Multicultural customers
- Building services in a multicultural environment ? the meaning of a user-centered approach
- Library as a multi- and intercultural work community
- International library organizations
- Development co-operation in the field of libraries

Qualifications

Libraries and Multicultural Environments

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1-2
The student is able to
- describe the central concepts in intercultural and multicultural library work
- specify the work practices and goals of a multicultural library
- name the central international library organisations and their overall tasks

3-4
The student is able to
- describe a library-centered way or working in a multicultural environment
- describe how to apply a multi-cultural approach in their own work

5
The student is able to
- describe how to apply a multicultural work approach in the development of library services

Materials

Audunson, R., Brunelli, M. Goulding, A. 2005. The Library in the Multi-cultural Information Society in European Curriculum .
In: European curriculum reflections on library and information science education
Availability: http://plari.amkit.fi/vwebv/holdingsInfo?sk=fi_EN&bibId=104536
Other materials will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures, conversations, group work and written assignments.