COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA Roziya Abu Victoria University, Melbourne Australia 2014 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA Submitted by Roziya Abu School of Social Sciences and Psychology Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILISOPHY November 2014 Victoria University, Melbourne Australia ii ABSTRACT In Malaysia, the government has invested in public libraries with the intention of promoting development, particularly in rural areas. Despite the increasing number of rural public libraries being built throughout Malaysia, providing users with many services, activities and programs, previous research indicates that they are underutilised. The research reported in this thesis aimed to explore relationships between rural public libraries and their communities in both Malaysia and Australia, with particular attention to empowerment and community development processes. This study adopted a multiple case study methodology with a purposive sample of six rural public libraries, three in Malaysia and three in Australia. Qualitative methods were used, including personal interviews, observations of group meetings, group discussions, and document review. The research found that in the Malaysian rural public library services included in this study, activities and programs are standardised and limited mostly to children, taking little account of local community information needs. Participants indicated that the materials and resources are frequently out-dated, and they perceived the library services as being mainly for children. The Australian rural public libraries included in this study facilitate greater community participation and involvement and are more responsive to the needs of local communities, providing support and assistance for lifelong learning and access to information literacy. It is suggested that development activities will have greater impact if local communities are involved and have a sense of ownership of the activities. The thesis proposes a framework for the development of more responsive rural public library services in developing countries such as Malaysia. Particular strategies are suggested, including locally-focussed collection development, consultation regarding local information needs, the development of local partnerships, and the development of Rural Public Library Networks. iii Student Declaration Doctor of Philosophy Declaration I, Roziya Abu, declare that the PhD thesis entitled Community Development and Rural Public Libraries in Malaysia and Australia is no more than 100,000 words in length including quotes and exclusive of tables, figures, appendices, bibliography, references and footnotes. This thesis contains no material that has been submitted previously, in whole or in part, for the award of any other academic degree or diploma. Except where otherwise indicated, this thesis is my own work. This research was approved by the Victoria University Human Research Ethics Committee, approveal number HRETH 09/234. Signature: Date: 12 November 2012 iv Acknowledgements This research was supervised by Professor Marty Grace. Hence, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Prof. Marty Grace for her advice, support and guidance throughout the course of this study, along with Dr. Mary Carroll for her assistance and direction as co- supervisor. Acknowledgements are also extended to Captain Dr. Hj Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani, to my precious and lovely children Ahmad Yahya Anaqhe, Naqheyatul Raudhah, Ahmad Taufiq Anaqhe and Ahmad Afiq Anaqhe, Mama valued and grateful for your patience, support and love during this journey; thank you to Madam Rahmah Hj Mohamad – my dearest mother, for your love and care, to my father Abu Talip, all my siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews – thank you all. Special cheers to Dr Vanessa Kirkpatrick, Grace Schirrippa, Victoria University School of Social Sciences and Psychology Staff members – Shahadah (Joanne), Amanda, Leonie, Elizabeth and finally to all my ‘beautiful’ friends, all your supports and guidance is very much valued. v Table of Contents Chapter Page Abstract ………………………………………………………………………….. iii Student Declaration ……………………………………………………………… iv Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………… v Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………… vi List of Appendices ……………………………………………………………….. x List of Publication and Awards ………………………………………………….. xi List of Pictures …………………………………………………………………… xii List of Charts …………………………………………………………………….. xiii List of Tables …………………………………………………………………….. xiii List of Maps ……………………………………………………………………… xiii List of Library Layouts ………………………………………………………….. xiv List of Common Abbreviations …………………………………………………. xiv CHAPTER 1: Introduction to the Research Research Aims ………………………………………………………………………. 9 Specific Aims ………………………………………………………………………… 10 Significance of Research ……………………………………………………………. 10 Political Significant…………………………………………………………………. 13 Structure of Thesis ………………………………………………………………….. 15 CHAPTER 2: Context, Conceptual Framework and Literature Review Cultural and Historical Context: Malaysia …………………………………………. 17 Contemporary Malaysia …………………………………………………………… 19 The Tradition of Storytelling in Malaysia …………………………………………… 21 Geographical and Cultural Context: Australia ……………………………………… 23 European Australia …………………………………………………………………. 25 Australian Aboriginal Traditional Literacy ………………………………………… 27 The Concept of the Public Library: The Historical Context of Libraries Public Library Development ……………………………………………………… 30 The Arab Muslim World …………………………………………………………… 32 Asia ………………………………………………………………………………… 32 Western Europe …………………………………………………………………… 33 The ‘Free’ and ‘Public’ Library ………………………………………………….. 35 Free Public Libraries ……………………………………………………............... 35 Malaysian Contemporary Public Libraries …………………………………………. 40 Post-Colonial Influence …………………………………………………….............. 40 National Library of Malaysia (NLM) ……………………………………………….. 42 Malaysian State Public Libraries……………………………………………………. 46 Australian Contemporary Public Library Development ……………………………. 46 Contemporary Public Libraries……………………………………………………. 47 State Library Victoria (SLV) ……………………………………………………........ 49 Victoria Regional Library Corporation…………………………………………….... 53 vi Contemporary Information Theory and Practice Public Library Policies ……………………………………………………………… 58 Collection Development ……………………………………………………………. 59 Acquisition…………………………………………………………………………… 61 De-selection…………………………………………………………………………. 62 Circulation…………………………………………………………………………… 63 Funding Policies ……………………………………………………………………. 64 Staffing Policies…………………………………………………………………….. 65 Marketing and Promotion …………………………………………………………. 66 Partnership/Community Engagement Policies …………………………………… 67 National Information Policy (NIP) ………………………………………………… 68 Information Literacy………………………………………………………………… 69 Community Information Literacy…………………………………………………… 69 Lifelong Learning …………………………………………………………………… 72 Learning Community……………………………………………………………….. 74 Summary…………………………………………………………………………….. 75 Community Development Theory and Practice: The Concept of Community Rural Community…………………………………………………………………… 77 Community Development…………………………………………………………. 79 Community Development and Community Engagement ……………………….. 80 Community Empowerment………………………………………………………… 85 Community Empowerment Process: on-going…………………………………….. 87 Philosophy of Community Development…………………………………………… 89 Participation and Involvement……………………………………………………… 90 Self-Help (Self-Determination) ……………………………………………………… 91 Decision-Making…………………………………………………………………… 93 Leadership………………………………………………………………………….. 94 Literacy……………………………………………………………………………… 95 Community Development and Empowerment Models in Practice Exogenous (Top-Down) Development Approach…………………………………… 97 Endogenous (Bottom-Up) Development Approach……………………………… 100 Mixed Exogenous/Endogenous Development Approach…………………………… 102 Overview of Community Development ………………………………………….. 104 Review of Research on Rural Public Libraries and Community Development……. 104 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………… 111 CHAPTER 3: Research Design Methodology…………………………………………………………………………. 112 Research paradigm ………………………………………………………………….. 113 Trustworthiness: Validity and Reliability ……………….………………………...... 114 The Multiple Case Study Approach…………………………………………………. 116 Rationale for the Multiple Case Study Approach………………………………….. 117 Sampling…………………………………………………………………………… 119 Justification………………………………………………………………………… 119 The Organizations………………………………………………………………….. 120 Process and Criteria for Selection of Cases………………………………………… 120 vii The Locations………………………………………………………………………. 121 Respondents………………………………………………………………………….. 122 Rural Public Library User Respondents…………………………………………….. 123 Rural Public Library Non-User Respondents……………………………………….. 126 Rural Public Library Librarian Respondents……………………………………….. 126 Rural Public Library Assistant Respondents………………………………………… 126 State Library Staff Respondents……………………………………………………... 127 Rural Public Library Group Respondents ………………………………………….. 129 Data Collection Methods…………………………………………………………….. 129 Data Collection Protocol…………………………………………………………….. 130 Interviewing………………………………………………………………………….. 135 Group Observation and Interviews…………………………………………………. 136 Review of Documents……………………………………………………………….. 153 Data Analysis………………………………………………………………………… 153 Ethical Considerations………………………………………………………………. 159 Ethical