Expanding a collection to reflect diverse user populations

Abstract

PurposeTo include multicultural/multilingual materials in academic library collections to reflect the heritage of native‐born, naturalized and international students.Design/methodology/approachA collection development project on Somalis and Somalia at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Exemplifies the opportunities and difficulties involved, from requesting funds through impact on the collection.FindingsCollection now more accurately reflects student and regional population without a major shift away from curriculum needs.Originality/valueAdding materials based on students' heritage helps create a welcoming atmosphere for all populations while providing materials with which to counter prejudices and to increase the knowledge base and communicative competencies of those unused to multicultural settings.

Diversity collection assessment in large academic libraries

“…Schomberg and Grace (2005) highlight collection assessment for a specific ethnic group, while Johnson-Cooper (1994) discusses assessment with an eye toward racially diverse collections. Bostic (1995) outlines efforts to increase multicultural acquisitions in response to growth in racial and ethnic groups.…”

Contribuciones de la biblioteca universitaria a la internacionalización del campus: análisis sistemático de la literatura

“…Diversos estudios abordan la necesidad de adecuar las colecciones y servicios de información para satisfacer las necesidades de estos grupos de usuarios, lo que incluye, por ejemplo, la creación de sitios web de bibliotecas bilingües o multilingües, de colecciones de recursos multiculturales, la adecuación de los ambientes a través de señalizaciones apropiadas, la organización de espacios de interacción ajustados a las características de estos usuarios e incluso la identificación de los medios de comunicación más utilizados por los estudiantes internacionales para emplearlos en la promoción de los servicios y la comunicación con la biblioteca (AIHONG, 2009;SAW et al, 2013;SCHOMBERG;GRACE, 2005;TORRAS;VAAGAN, 2006).…”

Looking Back, Moving Forward in the Digital Age

“…43 On a smaller scale, Schomberg and Grace outlined how the library at Minnesota State University-Mankato tailored its collection development efforts to meet the needs of their growing Somali student population. 44 Video games and popular forms of fiction, two areas of popular culture materials, received attention. Harris and Rice reported that video gaming collections were becoming more prevalent in academic libraries.…”