Transcript Brampton Library

Connecting with
South Asian Customers:
Developing Cultural Awareness
_______________________________
OLA Super Conference – 2008
Session 1003
Sarala Uttangi
Brampton Library
2008
Brampton Library
Objectives
 What do you and your staff need to know to
meet the needs of customers from other cultural
backgrounds?
 Develop your awareness of cultural groups
within your community and build strategies to
provide better customer service and synergies
among groups.
 Benefit from Brampton Public Library's work with
the South Asian cultures in creating a model for
your library.
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Creating a Model for your Library
Multicultural Philosophy
Collections
Programs and Services
Outreach and Partnerships
Staff and Training
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Demographic Trends in Brampton
 Top country of origin of immigrants in Brampton
 • The single largest immigrant group in Brampton are from
India (45.3%)
 Top three largest visible minority groups in Brampton
 • South Asians, Blacks and Filipinos.
 Top 3 religions in Brampton (after Roman Catholics and
Protestants)
 • Sikhs (10.6%) Hindus (5.4%) and Muslims (3.5%)
 Top three increases in language speakers between 1996 and
2001 census
 • Urdu-speakers (150.9%), Punjabi-speakers (113.8%) and
Spanish-speakers (77.6%)
2001 Canada Statistics (Social Planning Council of Peel)
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Region of Peel
 Peel is one of the fastest growing regions in Canada,
with over one million people (1,159,405).
 South Asians are the fastest growing community
 According to the 2001 census, immigrants make up
43.1% of Peel’s population
 A new statistics Canada study projects that by 2017
people of South Asian origin will be Toronto region’s
most populous visible-minority group, more than 1 million
will be South Asians which is up from 488,000 in 2001
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South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
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Country Profile
Country
Population
Major
Languages
Major
Religion
Area
Capital
India
1.1 billion (UN,
2005)
Hindi, English and
21 other official
languages +
1600 dialects
Hindu 81.4%,
Islam 12.4%,
Christian 2.3%,
Sikh 1.9%
Buddhism,
Jainism 2%
3.1 million
sq km
New Delhi
Urdu, English,
Punjabi, Sindhi,
Pashto, Balochi
Islam 97%
(Sunni 77%,
Shiite 20%);
Christian,
Hindu, and
other 3%
796,095 sq
km
Islamabad
Literacy 61%
Pakistan
161.1 million
(UN, 2005)
Literacy 48.7%
Bangladesh
152.6 million
(UN, 2005)
Literacy 41.1%
Bengali, Urdu,
Hindi
Islam 85%,
Hindu 12%,
other 3%
143,998 sq
km
Dhaka
Sri Lanka
20 million (UN,
Sinhalese, Tamil,
English
Buddhist 70%,
Hindu 15%
Christian 8%
Islam 7%
65,610
sq km
Colombo
2005)
Literacy 90.4%
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Blend of Religion, Language and Culture
India
West Pakistan
East Pakistan
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Religion
Hinduism
Islam
Sikhism
Buddhism
Christianity
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Cultural Tips
Norms, Practices and Values
Communication Styles
Cuisine
Fashion and Film (Bollywood)
10
Libraries in South Asia
National Library
Academic Library
Special and Scientific Library
Government Library
Public Library
Local Community Library
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What do you and your staff need to
know to meet the needs of customers
from other cultural backgrounds?
Newcomers to Canada face many
challenges in settling and adjusting
Connecting With Library Customers
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Develop your awareness of cultural
groups within your community
 Peel Community Information Database
 http://www.pinet.on.ca/
 211Ontario.ca
 http://www.211toronto.ca/
 Settlement.Org
 http://www.settlement.org/site/REGIONS/
 OCASI.Org
 http://www.ocasi.org/index.php
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Conclusion
If library staff don't become
culturally competent to effectively
serve all the people in ways that
are meaningful to them, we will
become meaningless!!
(Journal of Library Administration, 9/1/2001)
Shukriya and Namaste!!
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Contact Information
Sarala Uttangi
Information Services Coordinator
Multicultural Services
Brampton Library
905-793-4636 ext 4353
[email protected]
www.bramptonlibrary.ca
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