Are public libraries a useful tool for social integration?: The case of the public libraries in Montreal

Montreal is a multicultural city, with a high percentage of immigrants where great value is given to culture. The city has a network of public libraries, which are located in the different districts. The provincial government has just opened the new Bibliotheque Nationale du Quebec, which combines a national library service with those of a public library. The Bibliotheque Nationale du Quebec and the public libraries in Montreal have set a goal to facilitate the integration of immigrants into Montreal society. In this context, the objectives of this research is to find out to what extent the public libraries in Montreal are facilitating the integration of immigrants into society and to discover what important role the libraries actually play in this process.