Exploring the everyday life information needs and the socio-cultural adaptation barriers of Syrian refugees in Scotland
ISSN: 0022-0418
Article publication date: 23 July 2018
Issue publication date: 3 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents the research findings of the “Syrian New Scots’ Information Literacy Way-finding practices” research project, funded by the Information Literacy Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. The purpose of this paper is to explore the information needs of “Syrian New Scots” (the preferred name for refugees in Scotland), their habitual and adaptive information literacy practices and the barriers and enablers they encounter within their new socio-cultural setting via their interactions with people, tools and processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were collected via interviews with three Local Authority Leads for Syrian Resettlement and focus groups with Syrian New Scots in three geographical locations in Scotland: two rural areas and one urban. Syrian research subjects were also involved in a drawing exercise that helped to contextualise the findings.
Findings
The main information needs expressed by participants revolved around the learning of English language which was linked to addressing health-related information needs, well-being and community engagement. All participants also highlighted the issue of socio-cultural differences in fulfilling everyday life information needs (such as health and housing). Information provision to Syrian New Scots requires a more structured process that acknowledges personalised information needs and it is tailored to the different stages of the adaptation process. The findings suggest that the “ways of knowing” that Syrian refugees bring with them are converging information experiences of past and new knowledge structures gained via different socio-cultural and migration experiences.
Originality/value
The research findings of this project will be of interest to local and regional support organisations and community volunteer groups who contribute to the social well-being and social integration of Syrian refugees. In addition, they may be of interest to public libraries due to their role as centres for educational and cultural orientation sessions, and as places of support for newly settled Syrian refugees and the communities that embrace them.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the Syrian new Scots families who took part in this research project, the Local Council Leads and support officers, the volunteers and all the supportive network of people who share the vision and mission of “Scotland Welcomes Refugees” and who have helped in carrying out the research. In addition, the authors would like to acknowledge the continuing support and extremely useful ideas and suggestions of Pamela Tulloch (Scottish Library and Information Council), the support of Helen Adair (Learning Development Manager and Ian Lumsden (Lifelong Learning Librarian), the help and collaboration of Jacqueline Geekie (Information Literacy and Learning Librarian) and the anonymous reviewers of this paper for their detailed and useful suggestions. The authors would also like to thank The Information Literacy Community of Practice and particularly Dr John Crawford for the invitation to present the authors’ research findings to the group. Finally, this research project would have not been possible without the support of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Information Literacy Group (ILG) who was fundamental in helping the authors materialise the research ideas and direction.
Citation
Martzoukou, K. and Burnett, S. (2018), "Exploring the everyday life information needs and the socio-cultural adaptation barriers of Syrian refugees in Scotland", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 74 No. 5, pp. 1104-1132. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-10-2017-0142
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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