Cultural diversity and sustainable practice: A study on how librarians construct and implement the sustainable meaning of multicultural collections

Abstract

This study examines how public librarians in Taiwan navigate the intersection of multicultural collection development and sustainable development within contemporary public library practice. Using a qualitative approach based on semi structured interviews with 12 public librarians, the study analyzes librarians’ professional practices through the lens of Schatzki’s practice theory. The findings show that librarians frame multicultural collection development through epistemic recognition of cultural differences and a sense of professional responsibility, viewing diversity not simply as numerical representation but as the restoration of inclusive public knowledge spaces. Collection development is therefore understood as a dynamic process in which resource allocation is continuously adjusted in response to community demographics and changing information needs. Sustainability is operationalized through multilingual acquisitions, multi format access, and institutional adjustments that lower barriers to information, thereby aligning library practices with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). At the same time, librarians employ strategic practices such as anticipatory acquisition, cross sector collaboration, and contextualized curation while navigating structural constraints including limited funding, staffing pressures, procurement regulations, and publishing market limitations. These practices also involve ongoing ethical negotiations concerning cultural representation, freedom of expression, and the balance between equity and efficiency. Based on these findings, the study proposes an Action Cycle Model consisting of six interconnected stages: needs assessment, policy review, professional collaboration, resource integration, promotion and feedback, and subsequent adjustment. The model illustrates how librarians sustain multicultural collections through iterative practices that mediate between professional agency, institutional structures, and community needs, contributing to the broader understanding of sustainable knowledge governance in public libraries.