ACRL announces the publication of Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English as a Second Language Learners, edited by Leila June Rod-Welch. This thorough compilation provides outreach examples, lesson plans, and collection development practices that can help you better support international students and ESL 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 obstacles during their collegiate studies, including the social isolation of being away from family and friends, homesickness, finding employment and balancing work, financial struggles, different spiritual beliefs, unfamiliar living situations 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. In Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English as a Second Language Learners, forty-one librarians and scholars from different institutions across the United States and Canada share their expertise over nine 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.
Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English as a Second Language Learners is available for purchase in print and as an ebook through the ALA Online Store; in print through Amazon.com; and by telephone order at (866) 746-7252 in the U.S. or (770) 442-8633 for international customers.