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Cultural information needs of long-settled immigrants, their descendants and family members: use of collective and personal information sources about the home country

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posted on 2022-07-07, 02:26 authored by Maja KrtalicMaja Krtalic
Purpose This paper presents findings from a study that explored why and how long-settled immigrants, their descendants and family members seek and use information about their country of origin and how they manage personal information about their cultural heritage legacy. Design/methodology/approach 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from the Croatian community in New Zealand. Findings The main findings reveal two categories of information needs related to a home country: internally motivated and externally motivated. Information is accessed through a network of family and friends, cultural societies and embassies. These information sources are perceived as reliable and trustworthy, and able to offer an interpretation of information along with access to information. The findings highlight the value of personal collections as information sources and the impact of personal information management practices on preserving and sharing information about one's cultural heritage. Originality/value This article contributes to the discussion about information needs and practices of immigrant communities by offering arguments that focus on (1) long-settled immigrants, their descendants and family members, and (2) seeking information about home country culture and heritage, and (3) the role of personal collections and personal information management in maintaining personal cultural heritage. The results of this study may be of use to libraries, archives and museums in designing and offering their services to expatriates of their country and immigrants in their country, and to the wider information management sector developing services in personal information management.

History

Preferred citation

Krtalić, M. (2021). Cultural information needs of long-settled immigrants, their descendants and family members: use of collective and personal information sources about the home country. Journal of Documentation, 77(3), 663-679. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2020-0147

Journal title

Journal of Documentation

Volume

77

Issue

3

Publication date

2021-01-07

Pagination

663-679

Publisher

Emerald

Publication status

Published online

Contribution type

Article

Online publication date

2021-01-07

ISSN

0022-0418

eISSN

1758-7379

Language

en