Foreign students and the academic library

Abstract

Examines the problems experienced by foreign students, a neglected minority, in using US academic libraries. Although studies have shown that foreign students' difficulty in adjusting can often hamper their academic efforts, librarians still often act as though foreign students have no special problems and are indistinguishable from the general student population. A minimal effort at staff development, with the reference librarian as its focal point, can go far towards easing foreign students' problems of acclimation and enhancing their academic experience.