Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English As a Second Language Learners

International students in the United States contribute to the diversity of university campuses, classrooms, and our communities. These students bring new ways of thinking, help to foster academic competition, and enrich the cultural diversity of campuses and the common understanding and appreciation of differences around the world. At the same time, international students encounter many difficulties and obstacles during their collegiate studies, such as cultural shock, the social isolation of being away from family and friends, being homesick, finding employment and balancing work, financial struggles, different spiritual beliefs, unfamiliar living settings and food options, different learning styles and educational systems, language barriers, and cultural differences.

Academic librarians are uniquely positioned to help these students overcome cultural and educational challenges. Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English as a Second Language Learners provides outreach examples, lesson plans, and collection development practices that can help you better support international students and ESL learners. Forty-one librarians and scholars from different institutions across the United States and Canada share their expertise over nine thorough sections:

• Who Are Our International Students
• The Role of Librarians
• Importance of Library Resources
• Unit Lesson Plans
• Instruction Planning
• Collaborating with Campus Partners
• Outreach Initiatives to International Students
• Special Outreach Events
• Conclusion—Future Trends

Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English as a Second Language Learners provides librarians with a comprehensive guide to effective practices for serving international students, contributing to their retention and success, increasing campus diversity, and helping the students better enjoy their collegiate experience in the United States.