Meeting the information needs of students in the Ilokano language and literature program : assessing Hamilton library's Philippine collection at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Abstract

This case study uses a critical theory framework to explore the possibilities of how the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa's Hamilton Library can be a transformative space by aligning its services with the Ilokano Language and Literature Program and aid in the decolonization process and empowerment of students. The study identifies students' information needs and assesses the library's Ilokaniana collection. The study encompasses language and cultural preservation in Hawai‛i and the Philippines, the cultivation of ethnic pride and empowerment, and the growing development of Ilokano Studies as an academic discipline. Its multi-method approach includes a syllabus study, analysis of library-generated data and interviews of Ilokano Program students and professors and the Philippine specialist librarian. The research uncovers external and internal issues regarding the publication and availability of Ilokano materials and how students and professors supplement materials. Recommendations on how to improve the Ilokaniana collection, including collaborative and technological efforts, are addressed.