A Study on the Perception of Public Library Users on Multi-cultural Services

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the perception of public library users, who are local residences, on the multi-cultural services in public libraries using a series of statistical analyses on a questionnaire survey. The objectives of multi-cultural policies by Korean government are to foster assimilation of the multi-cultural people, social unification of Korean (local) communities, and cultural diversity in the communities. The results from the analyses show that the multi-cultural services in public libraries are understood from the unification and assimilation point of views, and that the perception of the multi-cultural services in public libraries is affected by the libraries' marketing activities, such as advertisements and participation. For the sustainable provision of the services, we suggest that the libraries would better consider 1) multi-oriented services with cultural diversity, assimilation, and social unification, 2) relationship with other multi-cultural agencies in a community, and 3) the perception of local residences on the services in public libraries.