Smaller, more specialized libraries proved to be more useful than Edmonton Public Libraries (EPLs) for investigating the reading practices of the Chinese community. The librarians of smaller libraries can recall the habits of their readers more easily, as they have a smaller readership and a limited collection of material. In contrast, I soon discovered that it is often difficult for librarians of larger libraries (such as the Rutherford Library at the University of Alberta or EPLs) to remember such details. Larger libraries also have more electronic material and self check-out technology, limiting the ability of librarians to link the identity of the readers to the material they sign out.
Nonetheless, larger libraries were still worth exploring, as they are an important resource available to the Chinese community. Many EPL branches have a "World Language" section, and Chinese frequently has its own area. According to Soleil Surette, the manager of Assessment and Research at Edmonton Public Libraries, "Chinese language material is [the] most popular non-English material and [the] largest non-English collection." Soleil also claimed that the size of the collection is directly influenced by demand, making it clear that Chinese sections at EPL locations are frequently visited.
While visiting the Stanley A. Milner library, I noted a variety of Chinese materials, including books about cooking, medicine, language, technology, health, as well as newspapers and magazines. However, compared to other libraries, there weren't a lot of material geared towards helping readers gain an in-depth knowledge about Chinese culture. For example, material that focus on the history or political systems of China were scarce. Instead, the material centered on more trivial subjects, such as DIYs, horror novels, and joke books.
Prior to my research, I assumed that EPLs were hot spots for newcomers in Canada to get reading material, as they are easily accessible and have many different locations around the city. The library's website supported this assumption, providing resources for newcomers regarding housing or legal rights. Since Edmonton Public Libraries seem to foster a welcoming setting for newcomers, I thought these branches would be a popular location for those individuals.
To learn more, I hoped to speak to a librarian specializing in the "World Languages" section, but the library no longer has specialized librarians. Instead, I was directed to a settlement practitioner, who worked alongside the library to help newcomers settle in. Regrettably, he could provide little information about reading practices, as he wasn't directly associated with the library. He also had limited access to the material, and was not in direct contact with the readers who frequent the library. The only reading materials he noted were appealing to newcomers were advertisement posters (ie. for immigration services) and the large online collection of magazines and newspapers.
In order to get more insight, I contacted Soleil Surette once more. She was only able to give me partial circulation data, because the library doesn't record information involving ethnicity. While I did receive information about the collection of Chinese material, I was unable to gain insight on the reading practices of the readers themselves. Still, the circulation data proved to be useful. These records revealed that Chinese fiction books circulated more frequently than non-fiction books, but circulation of Chinese fiction had decreased between the years 2011 and 2015. On the other hand, Chinese e-Resources steadily increased between 2012 and 2014, with a slight drop in 2015.
Although the information about reading practices wasn't easily acquired at this location, knowing the kinds of material available in the city allowed me to compare the collection with other institutions. While EPLs don't provide a lot of material that promote Chinese culture and values, these locations do provide material for particular interests, and remain an important resource for Chinese readers.
