The IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto

“As libraries serve diverse interests and communities, they function as learning, cultural, and information centres. In addressing cultural and linguistic diversity, library services are driven by their commitment to the principles of fundamental freedoms and equity of access to information and knowledge for all, in the respect of cultural identity and values.” (1)

These words were written by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) for their Multicultural Library Manifesto.  In a world that is increasingly diversifying due to faster communication, ease of travel and other forces of this century it is becoming increasingly important be able to communicate with and respect people of other cultural backgrounds.  The Multicultural Library Manifesto accurately states that “cultural diversity or multiculturalism is the foundation of our collective strength in our local communities and in our global society (1).  Cultural and linguistic diversity can and does lead to a more learned society.  As diversity continues to increase tolerance and respect will be the only way that people of different cultures will be able to co-exist harmoniously together.  This starts at the library.  If a community library is intolerant of other cultures, if a community library doesn’t provide equal access to information and library services, the community that library is in will follow its lead. 

There are four principles that libraries should follow in addressing cultural diversity.  The first one is that libraries must serve all members of the community.  In other words, libraries should not discriminate against people because their culture and/or language is not the dominant one.  In addition to not discriminating, libraries should provide information and materials in languages appropriate to their community.  If there is a large Albanian population in the community then the local library should have some library materials in that language.  The third principle is that the library must have materials and services available to all that reflects the community and their needs.  The final principle is to have staff at that library that reflects the diversity of the community.  In the aforementioned Albanian community it would be ideal if an Albanian could be on staff, or at least somebody who can speak the language.  That person should also be trained to work with diverse communities.  If a community library, or any type of library, fails to follow these principles, that library is merely contributing to the structural discrimination and alienation of multicultural people.

There are also several missions of multicultural library service that should be kept in mind.  The successful multicultural library facilitates multilingualism and promotes multiple languages coexisting is harmony.  Another library mission is to promote linguistic diversity on the Internet and another one is to encourage equal access to the Internet for all.  An additional mission is to support the inclusion of people from all groups, regardless of their cultural and linguistic background.  These are just a few of the missions stated.  There are several more and all of them are related to literacy, information, culture and education.  The primary role of a library is to allow everybody to get access to information.  If some people have access to more information than others and that access is based on their cultural and linguistic background, the library isn’t performing its main function.  This is especially true of publically funded libraries.  If a publically funded library is discriminating against some of the people who are providing funding then they are doing a real disservice to their community.

Finally, there are several core actions that a multicultural library should take.  First, a multicultural library needs to develop collections and services that serve their diverse communities.  A community with a sizeable Albanian population will need to have services and collections that this group will want.  Additionally, the multicultural library should allocate some of their resources to preserve the cultural heritage of their communities.  As an integral part of their service the multicultural library should create programs to support information literacy skills, cultural heritage, newcomer resources and other such programs.  Finally, the multicultural library should not only provide access to their resources in the languages of the communities that they serve but they should develop marketing and outreach resources in those languages as well.  If the library provides outreach services and markets their library in the various languages of their community, that library will probably get many more patrons.  If the marketing of a library is in a language other than the dominant language, people will certainly be more willing to visit that library as it may have resources for them in their language.

There have been a lot of suggestions here for what the multicultural library should do and how it should do it.  But the main thing that should be remembered is that these points should be central to the library mission.  They should not be relegated as “separate” policies and procedures.  They should be THE policies and procedures.  If a library follows most of all of these principles, missions and core actions, that library will be fully adhering to its mission of providing information to all people.  That will go a long way towards breaking down some of the institutional barriers that many people face as a result of their cultural and linguistic background.

Sources:

International Federation of Library Associations. (2008). The IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto. Accessed on October 28, 2010 from http://www.ifla.org/VII/s32/pub/MulticulturalLibraryManifesto.pdf