School Libraries across Cultures

Abstract

Migration and globalization throughout the world have caused many schools to become multicultural (or intercultural) institutions where students from more than 40 nationalities, who speak many different languages, receive their education under one roof. Some come from families who have lived in that country for generations and speak the official, national language; others represent small, indigenous groups; others are recent immigrants, including those who are more transient, sometimes called ‘Third Culture Kids’or global migrants. All these students use the same learning spaces at school as other students, including the school library. Furthermore, bilingual (secondary) education is being encouraged by a number of national governments. Its goal is to increase students’ proficiency in a “world language” and to provide them with an international orientation. Multicultural situations within the school also impact school libraries which need to become multicultural learning environments providing library services at a multicultural level.