Differences in Information Needs for Reading between Vietnamese and Indonesian Immigrants in Taiwan

Abstract

This study explored differences in information needs for reading among foreign immigrants from different cultural backgrounds who immigrated to a new country. The study involved a structured interview with 22 Vietnamese and Indonesian immigrants living in Taiwan, and applied a qualitative approach to analyze immigrants’ information needs for reading and their experience participating in library reading activities.\r\nThe study indicated that Vietnamese and Indonesian immigrants face similar struggles in the process of adapting to daily life and gathering relevant information after immigrating from geographically adjacent areas to Taiwan and that they exhibit several daily information needs for reading. Their information needs for reading can be divided into four categories: language learning, parent–child reading, schoolwork guidance, and leisure and entertainment. This study also revealed that cultural differences lead to different reading information preferences between Vietnamese and Indonesian immigrants.\r\nBy incorporating cultural differences into library services, libraries can effectively support immigrants and reduce potential conflicts arising from immigration. The findings provide insights for libraries worldwide, enabling them to promote the utilization of their resources and design customized reading services that cater to the specific cultural preferences of immigrant populations. Libraries should consider the unique information contexts of Indonesian and Vietnamese immigrants, as well as the influence of international marriages on reading preferences. Incorporating elements of immigrants’ native cultures, such as art, folklore, cuisine, and language, can attract immigrants and facilitate their integration into the new society.

本研究旨在探討來自不同文化背景的新移民在閱讀方面的資訊需求差異，針對居住在臺灣的22 名越南籍和印尼籍移民進行訪談，並運用質性方法分析移民在閱讀資訊需求以及參與圖書館閱讀活動時的經驗。研究結果顯示，越南籍和印尼籍移民至臺灣後，呈現出多樣的閱讀資訊需求，可歸納為語言學習、親子閱讀、學業指導以及休閒娛樂4 個類別。研究也進一步揭示文化差異對越南籍和印尼籍移民的閱讀資訊偏好造成的影響，建議將移民的本土文化元素（例如藝術、民間傳說、美食和語言）納入公共圖書館服務中，吸引移民並促進其在新社會中的融入。