Both Canada and the United States experienced an increase in the number of international students during the period of 2022 and 2023. In 2023, each country hosted approximately one million international students, with the majority originating from developing nations.
We recently hosted a webinar with information specialist, Janina Van Der Westhuizen, who has over 20 years experience within academic settings, and Eva, currently an international student at University College London (UCL). Janina and Eva were joined by our Director of Development, Jessica Clemons, to discuss how libraries can enhance support for international students by understanding their unique information needs from a global perspective.
In case you missed the webinar, you can catch up below:
Read on to discover our 7 ways that academic libraries can support the needs of international students:
1. Provide orientation and mentorship
Libraries can offer tailored orientation sessions for international students to introduce them to library resources, services, and staff.
Implementing mentorship programs where senior students guide newcomers can help international students navigate the library system and feel more welcomed.
"Students may find it more helpful to have personal guidance from someone who's a student mentor and more approachable by saying it in a very conversational way. This can be conducted weekly or in the from group chats, et cetera, to make it just feel more approachable and warm, welcoming." – Eva
2. Address language barriers
Libraries can provide access to language learning tools, software, and apps which can help international students improve their language skills. Hosting conversation clubs and guided reading groups can enhance students’ confidence in speaking and understanding academic English. This can build international students' confidence in academic communication.
"In some education systems, students may not have been encouraged to communicate or present in a second language such as English. If students haven't had strong training in the new language of instruction, it can be hard for them to understand lectures, write papers, and join discussions, especially in subjects that with complex vocabulary expectations around academic accuracy, plagiarism and research methods can differ significantly." – Janina
3. Offer cultural and social engagement
International students can feel more integrated into the university environment via organized social events, cultural celebrations, and study groups to help international students feel connected to the community. Events like library tours, book clubs, or cultural exchange sessions can create a supportive environment, and libraries can create a welcoming environment by organizing cultural exchange events to celebrate diversity and foster a sense of belonging.
4. Increase awareness of library services
Many international students may be unfamiliar with library resources in the country where they’re studying. Multilingual guides, library ambassadors, and workshops on using databases and citation tools can make library services more approachable. Offering library workshops on academic skills such as research methods, citation management, and avoiding plagiarism can help international students succeed academically.
"As a librarian myself, it's easy to try to train students or educate students to be little librarians. A colleague of mine loves to use that phrase, but I think we all know that that's, that's not the case. They're not little librarians. They have their own experiences; they have their own needs and there's a lot of work that librarians can do to connect along those dots." – Jessica
5. Create flexible study spaces
Designing library spaces that cater to different study needs, such as quiet areas, group study rooms, and individual study pods, can enhance the study experience.
Ensuring the library is a welcoming space with comfortable seating, good lighting, and a calm atmosphere can help students focus and feel at ease.
"I think on top of that is if the library itself has its dedicated area for like group work or individual study parts. Instead of a quiet conventional setting of the library where you just have rows of tables and chairs, you can also have separate certain areas into different functional uses. Maybe a more cross-functional area of the library would welcome students to come in more often." – Eva
6. Provide financial support
Libraries can assist students facing financial barriers by providing access to essential academic resources like textbooks and study materials.
Offering part-time job opportunities within the library can help international students manage their finances while gaining valuable work experience.
“For international students issues such as high tuition fees, hardship, currency fluctuations, and limited access to financial aid add to their financial worries. And this risk can make it difficult for them to focus their studies and it also impacts on their mental health.” – Janina
7. Leveraging technology and online resources
Utilizing online platforms and virtual libraries to provide resources and support to students who may be studying remotely or in hybrid learning environments. Digital tools, such as Lean Library, streamline access to library-subscribed resources and Open Access papers, boosting patrons’ productivity and saving them money.
"I've been using Lean Library for like half a year and it’s really helping me to find accessible readings, papers or reports which I can just press download … I think it helps me to save a lot of time." – Eva
Collaborating with faculty to integrate library resources into online courses and learning management systems can ensure students have easy access to necessary materials.
In summary:
Our discussion highlighted how essential it is for academic librarians to understand how to support the needs of international students and understand the diverse groups within academic environments. We hope our webinar has been useful in understanding a few of the ways academic libraries can support their international students.
"Turning our focus back to international students. Every path is new. Getting to know your new environment takes time and effort. Many students face significant challenges when they arrive, often related to everyday tasks that we might take for granted. Simple things like figuring out the local transport system." – Janina
Find out more:
If you’d like to find out more about how Lean Library can help your institution better support international students. Request a demo now!
