Outreach Ideas

International learners will be more comfortable approaching the desk if the librarians provide:

• A personalized 30 minute tour of library services for groups of international students.*
• A guide to library services patterned after the "Library Information for International Students Guide," published by the University of Alabama.*
• A coffee get-together for international learners.
• A guide to library terms for international students. Examples:
  • University at Buffalo’s Glossary of Library Terms

  

Other outreach ideas:

• Hiring international student workers.**
• Visiting their dorms.+
• Reaching out to resident assistants.+
• Being a guest speaker at student associations and residence halls meetings.+
• Advertising in the student newspapers and web pages.+
• Setting up a table on campus at the beginning of each semester.+
• Co-sponsoring workshops with the job fairs.+

(* Mangala Krishnamurthy and Jennifer McClure, “From the Field: International Outreach at the University of Alabama,” Versed, Bulletin from the Office for Diversity, ALA, September-October 2005.)
(** Melanie Chu, “From the Field: Outreach Initiatives to Nontraditional Students at California San Marcos,” Versed, Bulletin from the Office for Diversity, ALA, May-June 2004.)
(# Downing, Arthur and Klein, Leo Robert, "A multilingual virtual tour for international students: The Web-based library at Baruch College opens doors," College and Research Libraries News, 62 no.5, May 2001, 500-2.)
(+ Cathy Anne Lu, “Services for New American Users: Indochinese Students’ Behavior in Using Academic Libraries,”ACRL Tenth National Conference, March 15-18, 2001, Denver, Colorado.)