THE VIEWPOINT OF IMMIGRANT ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT INFORMATION NEEDS OF ITS POPULATIONS AT MADRID COMMUNITY’S PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Abstract

The purpose of this research is detecting the information needs of the main immigrant populations in Madrid’s Community. The public libraries as -informative, socio-educative and cultural- proper agents and places in order to the integration of immigrants form the conceptual framework of our research. A survey design is suited. The information has been sought in the main immigrant associations being the key informants their Presidents. A questionnaire has been elaborated to collect the data and a personal interaction has been used. Some findings obtained are: Immigrants consider necessary that public libraries provided Web sites with thematic information that makes easier their integration. The main thematic contents have been identified. The immigrants have the need of a referential data base about theirs cultures which could be consulted in theirs motherly languages.