International Students and Academic Libraries

Abstract

Ethnic, racial, and gender diversity remains a feature of the demographic composition of students in higher education. Diversity on college campuses exposes students to new perspectives, research opportunities, and pedagogy practices. International students studying in academic institutions contribute to the ethnic diversity in universities, and this chapter examines their interactions with librarians and libraries. Librarians' understanding of international students' library use can foster the development of appropriate training opportunities, program initiatives, and outreach efforts for these individuals. It can also identify the necessary staff skills for successful interactions between librarians and international students and facilitate their use of library resources and services. To this end, the authors present a literature review of international students and academic libraries.