"Searching for tūpuna : Whakapapa researchers in public libraries", completed research project

The following is the completed research report for my MLIS research project "Searching for tūpuna : Whakapapa researchers and public libraries". It is provided here in its entirety as it was submitted to the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington.

This is an academic work and may be used for educational and academic purposes as long as it is appropriately referenced and cited.

A paper copy of this report is also held by the Victoria University of Wellington Campus Library.
For further information or enquiries regarding this research, please contact the researcher.

Searching for tūpuna :
Whakapapa researchers and public libraries






by



Moata Tamaira






Submitted to the School of Information Management,
Victoria University of Wellington
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Library and Information Studies




October 2007

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my supervisor Alastair Smith for his calm and considered advice that has helped me come to the end of what has been a very long and drawn out process. In addition thanks goes to my fellow MLIS students whose advice and support has been similarly invaluable. Thanks also to Heidi Kuglin upon whose research much of this study is based.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by the membership of the Māori Interest Group of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, in particular “Te Reo” editor Bruce Mathers and MIG secretary Brenda Joyce. Your enthusiasm and interest made me determined to soldier on. Also, to the members of Te Rōpū Whakahau who helped by asking questions, or filling out pilot surveys, many thanks.

To the managers who kindly gave their permission for me to distribute my questionnaire in their institutions, Bernie Hawke, Joanne Horner, Carolyn Robertson, Whina Te Whiu, and in particular Raewyn Paewai for her seemingly endless enthusiasm. I could not have undertaken this project without your support or that of your staff, particularly Ann Reweti, and Jean Strachan.

To my colleagues at Christchurch City Libraries for their willingness to accommodate my study needs, and for their unending patience and support, I am fortunate to work alongside you in this crazy library business. And finally, to my friends and family, I couldn’t have done it without you. Arohanui ki a koutou katoa.
Moata Tamaira
2007

Table of Contents

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Problem
2.1 Problem Statement
2.2 Research Objectives
2.3 Research Questions
2.4 Expected benefits of the research
2.5 Definitions
2.6 Limitations and delimitations
2.6.1 The limitations of this study
2.6.2 Delimitations of this study
3. Literature Review
3.1 Whakapapa in Māori Culture
3.2 Genealogists and Family Historians
3.4 Indigenous Populations and Libraries Internationally
3.5 Māori, Information Management, and Technology
3.6 Summary
4. Research Design
4.1 Project Description
4.2 Methodology
4.2.1 Survey
4.2.1.1 Pilot survey
4.2.1.2 Survey instrument - Printed
4.2.1.3 Survey instrument - Online
4.2.1.4 Survey content
4.3 Population and Sample
5. Data Analysis
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Whakapapa Researcher Profile
5.2.1 Age, Gender and Ethnicity
5.2.2 Previous research experience
5.2.3 Motivation for beginning whakapapa research
5.2.4 Whose ancestors are being researched?
5.3 Whakapapa research experience
5.3.1 Level of whakapapa research experience
5.3.2 Whakapapa research in public libraries
5.4 Finding whakapapa information in public libraries
5.4.1 Order of research activity in the library
5.4.2 Using whakapapa sources
5.4.3 Using sources of information effectively
5.4.4 Librarian produced materials used by whakapapa researchers
5.4.5 Asking a librarian for help
5.5 Computer knowledge and experience
5.5.1 General computer experience
5.5.2 Use of the library catalogue
6. Conclusions and recommendations
6.2 Summary of the data
6.3 Recommendations
6.4 Further research
Appendices
Appendix 1. Letter of Information
Appendix 2. Survey Questionnaire
Appendix 3. Aggregate data for Question 10
Bibliography

Abstract

Genealogists are frequent users of public libraries and other institutions that hold historical material. In recent years research has investigated the information needs of this group, the motivating factors behind their involvement in this hobby. Attempts have also been made to compile a “profile” of the typical genealogist. Research in this area has been done in response to the long association genealogists have had with libraries and in acknowledgement of the growing popularity of this pastime.

Similar research methodologies as have been used overseas have been utilised in this piece of research with respect to genealogists in New Zealand, specifically those researching the family history of Māori, the indigenous people of that country. In traditional Māori culture great significance is placed on family history or whakapapa. This study aimed to investigate to what degree the use of public libraries by genealogists researching this cultural group reflected findings of library use and information seeking behaviour of genealogists in other cultural environments. Whakapapa research may be undertaken by genealogists who do not have Māori ancestors, or tūpuna, themselves and these library users still fall within the scope of this study.

Data was collected by using printed questionnaires distributed to public libraries in New Zealand, as well as a printable version of the questionnaire that was made available online .

Keywords: genealogists, family historians, indigenous, Māori, libraries, whakapapa

1. Introduction

This research project was undertaken to investigate the use of public libraries in New Zealand by researchers into Māori family history, or whakapapa. Though genealogists or family historians have been the subject of research in other countries, comparatively little investigation has dealt with genealogists and their use of public library resources in New Zealand. As a result, very little is known of how whakapapa researchers use these resources. This piece of research surveyed whakapapa researchers throughout the country with the aim of determining if the conclusions relating to genealogists in general, would apply in this more specific cultural setting. The research focused on whakapapa researchers’ use of public library resources with the aim to better inform these institutions of the needs of this group of users.

2. Problem

2.1 Problem Statement

There exists a body of literature (see 4. Literature Review) about genealogists and their information needs, however until now there has been no research that addresses the specific needs of researchers of Māori genealogy. Though some researchers in this area may be non-Māori it is reasonable to assume that most will have Māori ancestry and that certain cultural factors such as those discussed later may have some bearing. Projections from Statistics New Zealand (2005) state that the number of New Zealanders with Māori forebears will increase significantly in the next 15 years[1] therefore increasing the significance of this user group to public library services. In addition there are specific factors at work in a Māori cultural setting such as the broader role that whakapapa plays and issues with technology that have not been incorporated into previous research. This gap in current research makes it difficult for those providing public library services to this body of users to accurately assess or anticipate the information needs of whakapapa researchers, a group that will likely grow in the future.
[1] Estimates from Statistics New Zealand (2005) (pg. 142) anticipate Māori rising to 29% of the population by 2021.

2.2 Research Objectives

This research project aims to –

• find out how whakapapa researchers use public library services.
• compare the results relating to whakapapa researchers with those found in literature on genealogists in general to illuminate any differences between these groups of library users.
• use the data collected and resulting analysis to create a picture of what steps public libraries might take to enhance their services to this user group.

2.3 Research Questions

In support of the objectives stated above the following questions will be addressed in the course of the study.

• What is the profile of the whakapapa researcher, in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, level of research experience, and motivations?
• What key sources do whakapapa researchers seek out and use in public libraries?
• What resources do whakapapa researchers use in public libraries?
• What search strategies do whakapapa researchers employ?
• Are whakapapa researchers confident users of information technology?

To a large degree these research questions mirror those used by Kuglin (2004) in order to compile similar data sets that lend themselves well to comparison in the analysis phase of the study.

2.4 Expected benefits of the research

The information seeking behaviours, and needs of whakapapa researchers have not so far been investigated in LIS research. As both the popularity of genealogy and the proportion of Māori represented in the population increase it will be necessary for librarians to have information on how to best meet the needs of this group of users. If library professionals make assumptions about what whakapapa researchers require in public libraries on the basis of research done in North America they run the risk of making poor decisions and potentially alienating this user group. Māori have often had issues around using libraries in the past and this has been discussed by those in the library field such as Szekely (1997). The expectation in conducting research that addresses Māori cultural factors in family history research is that it will result in a more informed public library service. The data gathered in this study will inform the final recommendations made there. These recommendations will be practical, achieveable steps that public libraries can take that will enhance the service and library experience of whakapapa researchers in New Zealand.

2.5 Definitions

The following terms will be used throughout this research project –

Genealogy is the study of lineage of one or more families, often with the view to creating a family tree or pedigree chart.

Family history relates to, but is not the same as, genealogy. Where genealogy is concerned strictly with lineage, family history allows for the inclusion of broader contextual information about families and individuals.

Information seeking behaviours refers to the strategies that researchers employ in finding the sources that will further their research. This may include the use of a range of resources.

Public libraries refers to those libraries that are funded by local government rather than libraries that are accessible to the general public.

Resource is an item that has been produced by the library or librarian to help researchers find specific sources within the library collection. Printed or website based guides, archival finding aides, and computer catalogues are all examples of resources.

“Source is a published or unpublished item purchased or acquired by a library as a part of its colleciton and is catalogued” Kuglin (2004). Examples of whakapapa sources include Māori Land Court records, Birth, death, and marriage records, and published genealogies of Māori families.

Search strategies are those patterns of information seeking behaviour that are favoured by the researchers in question. Search strategies will relate to the use of resources within the public library setting such as use of computer catalogues etc.

Whakapapa is a Māori word meaning family history or genealogy, although it can also apply in contexts other than genealogy.

Whakapapa researchers are researchers, either professional or amateur, who study and investigate the family history and lineage of Māori New Zealanders either regarding their own ancestry or someone elses.

2.6 Limitations and delimitations

2.6.1 The limitations of this study

Due to the Māori population of New Zealand being a minority one there it was considered that there might be some difficulty in gaining a large enough data sample. It was hoped that by distributing the survey in the main centres that a larger number of researchers would come into contact with the surveys therefore increasing the likelihood of an acceptable number of completed surveys. In addition those researchers not living in the urban centres that have distribution points could still have access to the printed survey online via the Māori Interest Group, New Zealand Society of Genealogists (MIG-NZSG) website.

There was the possibility of there being some self-selection bias. Possibly more experienced whakapapa researchers would be more likely to complete the survey as a result of their greater commitment and interest in the subject. Again the provision of an online distribution point for the survey could have made it more likely for younger researchers to participate. The use of an online survey by Drake (2001) had this effect and on the whole younger researchers will have been involved in their research for less time so responses from less experienced researchers might be more likely as a result.

As several distribution points for the survey were chosen from around the country, the researcher was unable to attend to these personally. This was potentially problematic in terms of consistency of promotion around the various sites. Also communication between the researcher and distribution points was very important in order to keep to prescribed timetables.

2.6.2 Delimitations of this study

This research project is concerned with the use of public libraries only though whakapapa researchers may well use many different institutions such as museum libraries and archives, as well as repositories of tribal information. Modern public libraries supply a wide range of sources for whakapapa researchers including access to online sources.

This research project focuses on whakapapa researchers in New Zealand. The bulk of information sources for Māori family history will be located in New Zealand though information may also be available in institutions overseas. In addition significant numbers of Māori, and by extension whakapapa researchers, live in other countries, particularly Australia where almost 73,000 people of Māori descent live[1]. This project is not concerned with ex-patriate whakapapa researchers and looks specifically at those using New Zealand public libraries.

[1] from Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006)

3. Literature Review

In surveying the literature produced in the LIS (Library and Information Science) field on the topic of genealogy researchers it becomes clear that most of the research focuses on populations other than the one that is the subject for this study, Māori. Where Māori have been the subject of study there has generally been a different focus for the research. Research on family historians and genealogists (terms that are generally used interchangeably in the literature) have not so far focused on Māori family history research in public libraries.

3.1 Whakapapa in Māori Culture

Whakapapa is often translated as Māori family history or genealogy and while this is probably the easiest definition it is not necessarily the most complete one. Whakapapa is fully discussed by Hemara (2005) who argues that one of the functions of whakapapa is to “rationalise existence and explain the origins of the universe” (p. 1). Whakapapa acts as a taxonomy showing the interrelation of Gods and natural phenomenon as well as people. Similarly Royal (1993) describes whakapapa research as “a spiritual journey”(p. 10) however this is in the context, not of a research study, but of a guide for those embarking on whakapapa research. Such is the lack of peer-reviewed research in this area however that Royal’s comments are as authoritative as any. These concepts are not generally expressed as an aspect of family history research in other cultural contexts in the literature such as the work of Drake (2001) or Sinko and Peters (1983). More recently Ta’ala (2006) has emphasised the importance that whakapapa plays in defining Māori identity and the breadth of scope that it has beyond family connections and lineage. Given that there is an added element attached to whakapapa that has not been illuminated in research on Western concepts of genealogy it would be wise to factor this in to any study investigating the needs of whakapapa researchers.

3.2 Genealogists and Family Historians

The relationship that exists between genealogists or family historians and libraries, and therefore librarians has been regularly written about by those in the LIS field such as Latham (2003) though is it only in recent years that research on genealogists or family historians as a “user group” has become more common. This probably reflects the growing popularity of genealogy with Litzer (1997) stating that it is “one of Americans [sic] most popular hobbies.”(para. 2). The idea that this popularity is increasing is an oft repeated one in the mainly North American based literature and statistics quoted by Kuglin (2004) suggest that this is also the case in New Zealand. Consequently, a body of research into the needs of this group is now beginning to develop though it is has largely been limited to genealogists in North America and has not, so far, concentrated on indigenous populations. Some research is concerned with how genealogists carry out their research and what their needs, attitudes and motivations are. Research in this area has often used surveys to gather data, such as those by Lambert (1998), Litzer (1997), Sinko and Peters (1983) and Drake (2001).

Despite the long association that genealogists and family historians have had with libraries and archives surprising little research has looked at what sorts of information seeking behaviours these customers utilise, that is, what strategies genealogists use in trying to find the family history information they need. Duff and Johnson (2003) conducted a series of in-depth interviews with American professional genealogists and determined that this group tended not to use librarian-produced finding aids, and tended to rely “more heavily on colleagues or an informal network than on archivists” (pg. 94). Duff and Johnson also found that these highly experienced genealogists were very adept at re-framing their information need, such as the name of an individual being researched, into a search for the kind of record that might contain that information, such as a baptism or marriage record. This research was conducted within the context of the use of archives rather than libraries, as well as focusing on experienced users. Kuglin (2004) finds some similarities within the use of libraries in New Zealand specifically in that family historians and genealogists tend to be “quite independent researchers” (pg. 67) with relatively low use of finding aids. The information seeking behaviour of whakapapa researchers has however not be investigated in any of the current literature.

Research on genealogists often focuses on generating a genealogist “profile” and determining their level of involvement in genealogical research. Lambert (1999), Yakel (2004), Drake (2001), and Kuglin (2004) all incorporate a profiling aspect in their research. Drake’s survey sought to elicit information about genealogists themselves as well as their level of involvement in genealogy. Drake’s was the only study to use an online survey and notably received the highest number of respondents of the three. Kuglin (2004) dedicates a portion of her research to creating a genealogist “profile” with data gained through a survey distributed in several New Zealand libraries. Each of these studies, though using different methods of delivery, often in different countries all paint a similar genealogist “portrait” of a genealogist as an older woman who spends a signficant amount of time on her hobby and is relatively experienced in family history research.
Kuglin’s (2004) research stands out as the sole piece of research on genealogists and their use of library services that is set in New Zealand. Apart from creating a genealogist “profile” the study sought to determinine how genealogists research in libraries and how experienced they are, in order to better understand their informational needs and how to address them. Her conclusion that genealogists would benefit from collaboration between libraries and genealogical societies mirrors Litzer’s (1997) findings. Unfortunately the demographic data gained from informants in this study was restricted to age and gender therefore cultural considerations as relates to genealogists researching Māori family history were not illuminated. Furthermore, Kuglin admits that her survey did not capture sufficient data from inexperienced genealogists and that it paints an incomplete picture that warrants further investigaton. Kuglin’s study is also limited geographically to the North Island, and can therefore only represent a part of the overall picture for the country.

3.4 Indigenous Populations and Libraries Internationally

LIS professionals internationally have made attempts to assess the information needs of indigenous populations in countries other than New Zealand. Much of what has been written is based on the experience of LIS professionals rather than research, and attempts to make recommendations on how to best serve these customers. This is the case with examples such as Nakata (2005) wherein the information needs of Aboriginal Australians are discussed. Few examples of research that has been undertaken in this area are available however one such is the work of Biggs (2001) who sought to investigate and assess the degree of access to library services available amongst Native American communities in California. Biggs found that the tribal libraries she assessed were seen as an important institution in preserving and recording local indigenous culture but that they lacked consistent and established funding. Another example of research into the information needs of an indigenous group is that of Ikoja-Odongo and Ocholla (2004) who focus on entrepreneurs in Uganda. They found that the information seeking behaviours of this group rarely led them to a library and 68% of respondents did not know about public libraries at all. A common thread amongst this work is that indigenous populations are often not well served by the Western library model. This is discussed in more detail with respect to the indigenous culture in New Zealand in the following section.

3.5 Māori, Information Management, and Technology

Those in the LIS field in New Zealand have recognised for some time that use of information systems such as those found in libraries, and related technology has been problematic for Māori as a user group. There is a body of writing on Māori use of libraries such as that by Szekely (1992) but there are few examples of research in this area. However recent research by Duncker (2002) has sought to investigate this using a combination of research methods including interviews and observed behaviour. In a small-scale study carried out at the University of Waikato Duncker found that Māori students were often uncomfortable in a library environment and unfamiliar with how information was organised in the library. This unfamiliarity also had negative effects on their use of digital library resources as the terminology and organisation used in the digital environment was based on that found in the physical library. Duncker suggests that use of the library metaphor in digital environments “...further augments the difficulties of users with little or no experience of Western libraries.” (pg. 229). Duncker’s Māori interviewees also related that they were more likely to learn how to use the library more efficiently if another (usually Māori) person took a hands on approach in showing them how to use the resources and orient them in the environment. This is a key piece of information to consider when investigating the information seeking behaviour of whakapapa researchers. Although this piece of research was conducted in a tertiary library, there is every reason to suspect that similar problems afflict Māori users of public libraries too. Māori users of public libraries were among those interviewed in the work of Simpson (2005) who interviewed Māori library users and Māori staff at several libraries around the country in order to illuminate how Māori library users access information in a library setting. A preference for human interaction over technology or other finding aids was expressed by many of the interviewees in this study as well.

Two key, related pieces of research that do focus on public libraries have been published. MacDonald’s (1993) research used interviews and surveys filled in by staff in public libraries in order to determine how well libraries were catering to Māori customers. Though it highlighted several key points in library use by Māori, its focus was mainly on those providing the service, and whakapapa research was not dealt with. In Szekely’s (1997) follow-up study the opinions of both Māori staff and users of the library were gathered through a series of hui or meetings held throughout the country. This piece of research highlighted several issues that apply to the study currently being proposed such as the identification of whakapapa as an “Information need” (pg. 36), attitudes around the appropriateness of libraries holding this information, and a general reticence by Māori in using libraries. Similarly Auckland City Libraries in consultation with Heather Worth (1995) surveyed their customers about their use of that public library network and received similar feedback. No further follow up research has been undertaken in these areas and ten years on it may be timely to revisit some aspects of this research study with a focus on whakapapa researchers. Also discussed by Szekely was the difficulty Māori have in dealing with technology such as library catalogues, an idea supported by Duncker’s (2002) and Simpson’s (2005) findings.

Recent research by Ta’ala (2006) has illuminated the changing role of whakapapa in a records management context. Ta’ala conducted a series of interviews with representatives of Iwi rūnanga (Māori tribal organisations) to determine how whakapapa, a mainstain of a traditional Māori worldview, was being changed by its integration within a western records management system and how tikanga Māori (traditional Māori beliefs and protocols) has been applied in the care of Māori information. Though this research takes place in the context of records management there are aspects of this that could be relevant to public libraries also.

Māori access to technology is the focus of the work of Parker (2003) who used data gathered from interviews and surveys to assess the engagement of Māori with information technologies and found that this demographic suffers from a noticeable “digital divide” meaning that Māori are far less likely to have access to information technologies than the population in general. Public libraries extensively use these technologies in providing access to resources, as well as providing access to the technologies themselves. No research in this area has yet determined how this trend might affect whakapapa researchers.