• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.363-390
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• 2018

The libraries and social welfare centers carry out various programs for the information poor. The libraries have focused on accessing and utilizing information, while social welfare centers have centered on improving the quality of life. This study have investigated as follows. Firstly, this study examined the cooperation model between libraries and social welfare centers or librarians and social workers in public libraries in Korea and California, USA, and analyzed the international library policies and guidelines in literature review. Through the definition of terms and related concepts, we confirmed the range of the information poor in this study. Secondly, this study executed to interview librarians and social workers in Korea and USA about the way of cooperation for the information poor. These interviews have been understood the public library outreach programs in California and the program of the National Library for Children and Young Adults' Out of School Youth Reading Program (2018). Finally, this study suggested the core elements to be considered in developing a library outreach model for the information poor based on the implications derived from literature review and interviews.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.299-324
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• 2018

This study analyzes the processes and the needs of public library services for multicultural populations based on cooperation between public libraries and local organizations. In-depth interviews with public librarians and officers of local organizations were conducted for this case study. Result shows that cooperation was inevitable because there was not enough library personnel compared to the amount of services they have to provide, and the librarians did not have proper skills to serve the diverse populations. Public libraries were cooperating with many local organizations including the Multicultural Family Support Center. Gatekeepers of ethnic communities were playing important roles in promoting and inviting participants for library programs. Many children and young adults with immigration background gained positive views on reading and libraries after participating library programs based on cooperation between public libraries and local organizations, which was recognized as the best achievement of cooperation by many interviewees. Despite many good results of cooperation, how to get to the majority of diverse populations who are not library users yet is still a question mark. Interviewees for this study all agreed that current library service has limitations and insisted a whole new method to invite immigrants and their families to public libraries should be created.