Developing multicultural library services for globalization

Abstract

Multicultural education refers to any form of education and teaching that incorporates the histories, texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from different cultural backgrounds. It incorporates the idea that all students, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, social class and ethnic, racial or cultural characteristics shall have equal opportunity and equal chance in school, and of course giving equal library services. According to IFLA, library and information services in a culturally and linguistically diverse context include both the provision of services to all types of library users to different groups. This paper aims to help develop an ASEAN multicultural library services for globalization through: (1) presenting survey questionnaire results of the information needs, information seeking behavior and difficulties in searching and writing academic assignments of selected foreign students who were enrolled in the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and Southville International Schools and Colleges in Las Piñas City; (2) giving practical tips and training on diversity management for librarians and their clients; and, (3) providing multicultural-based library services and programs.