Diversity in universality

Abstract

AbstractMulticulturalism is one of the principles of library functioning. Each well-operated library tries to realise it by the contents of its collection and by providing access for all potential users. The paper presents the ways by which Slovene libraries accomplish their mission of general public access to library material and information. It has been evident that in those libraries where multiculturalism is a standard daily practice librarians do not distinguish between superior and inferior users, or better and worse visitors. On the contrary, they try to re-establish open relationships, exchange experience, acknowledgement, respect and active co-existence of the differences in the community. Usually, ethnic minorities are the touchstones for libraries regarding the fulfilment of the principle of multiculturalism. Therefore, we have surveyed the effectiveness of the latter in those areas where the Italian, the Hungarian and the Romany nationalities live. We ascertained that it does not depend only upon the economic development of the environment or formal and professional recommendations but also upon the librarians’ understanding of the library’s mission and enthusiasm for its realisation.