A PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A ‘THIRD PLACE’ IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY: THE ARAB COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN SHEFFIELD - A CASE STUDY

The present study responds to the dearth of library and information science empirical studies on the demographic of Arabs in the UK. It aims to examine the public library experience and related behaviour of members of Arab ethnic minorities in Sheffield; it also considers their needs in relation to inclusion and integration and the public libraries’ role in addressing those needs. Oldenburg’s (1989) third places theory was chosen to guide this research to fill those gaps. Namely, three of the third place's characteristics were selected: levellers, conversational and home-away-from-home.
Using a primary survey tool within an explanatory single case study design, web surveys were conducted with 221 members of the Arab community, and 20 library staff and volunteers to provide the descriptive ground for designing the qualitative method (i.e. semi-structured interviews). Following the survey stage, to answer the research questions fully, eight virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Arab community's members and leaders, and four interviews with the library leadership team.
The empirical findings show that the Arab community had positive experiences when describing their use of the English library collection or the library's general public services or communicating and interacting with the library staff or volunteers. Yet, a frequent criticism was the relevance and accessibility of the multicultural and multilingual (namely Arabic) stock and services, and the homogeneity of library staff and volunteers in some public libraries in Sheffield. Thus, there is much that could be done to libraries to make them into what could be conceptualised as third places. To the Arab participants, third places are safe, convenient and welcoming places, where everyone can enrich and celebrate their identities irrespective of their background. Oldenburg's (1989) third places are yet to meet all those expectations.
Although this study faced limitations due to COVID-19 and the scarcity of detailed and
accurate statistical data about the Arab community in Sheffield or studies about their access to public libraries in the United Kingdom, this study fulfilled its aim and made various contributions. A key contribution of this thesis is to provide a new reading of the integration and inclusion needs and public library experience of the Arab community in the UK and to shed light on themes and problems to be considered when studying Arabs. This study also makes a vital theoretical contribution to Oldenburg's (1989) third places theory. It reconstructs and develops Oldenburg's (1989) theory and adds diversity to its characteristics. As a result, it provides public libraries with a conceptual model to define and advocate their role in fostering a coherent society and addressing cultural divide, equality and library engagement issues.