an exploratory study librarians’ understanding of first generation students’ concerns and needs:...
TRANSCRIPT
An Exploratory Study
Librarians’ Understanding of First Generation Students’ Concerns and Needs:
Karina Miki Douglas, MLIS 2007The University of Western Ontario
Acknowledgements
I would also like to thank Dr. Anabel Quan-Haase, Faculty of Information and Medias Studies and Dr. Ron Hansen, Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario for co-supervising this research project.
ERIC Thesaurus Definition
“Students who are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education - more strictly refers to students whose parents have attained education at or below the high school level.”
Note: The Controlled Vocabulary Term is First Generation College Students.
Some Characteristics…
• Around 1/3rd of all students
• Lower income backgrounds
• Often older than 18-23
Some Characteristics…
• More likely belong to a visible minority
• More likely to have experienced racial discrimination
• (Terenzini et al., 1996; Grayson, 1997; Tyckoson, 2000; Choy, 2001)
Not Just Undergraduates…
First generation status still poses challenges for students at the graduate-level
An even smaller minority carry on to graduate studies
Keep in Mind…
These are just a few common tendencies, far from serving as a template applicable to all first generation students
Identity as a Group…
The defining characteristic of being first is intrinsic
First generation students are a hidden minority
Challenges…
“Research shows that being the first member of a family to go to university is the hardest barrier to break.”
• The Times (UK): University Squeeze on Children of Graduates, March 16, 2007
Academic Challenges
• Did not prepare enough in high school• Other commitments besides class• Time management• May feel intimidated • Drop in grades; risk for academic
probation • Do not know where to get help
Assimilation Challenges
• Socio-economic differences• Cannot fall back on familial experience• Limited/Conflicted support from home• Expectations and pre-conceived notion
versus reality of higher education• Age and experiential differences in the
lifecourse
First generation students have a much higher risk for attrition than their continuing generation peers.
Consequently…
Influences on Education
The strongest influences on a child’s educational aspirations include:Parents’ level of education
attainedParents’ attitudes towards higher
education HRDC (2004), Aspirations of
Canadian Youth for Higher Education
Making Gains…
Using the school library on a regular basis led to more academic gains
• (Eg: Terenzini et al, 1996; Grayson, 1997; Pike & Kuh, 2005)
“Library Experiences”
Most literature available comes from Educational Studies
Behaviours defining “library experiences” convey a document-based view of the academic library
“Library Experiences”
• A quiet place to read/study• Browsing• Asking for help• Reading extra materials for class• Using an index/database• Developing a bibliography• Reading a cited reference
• Pike & Kuh (2005)
Basis of the Present Study:
“Library service for the first-generation college student.”
David A. TyckosonHEAD OF PUBLIC SERVICES, HENRY MADDEN LIBRARY AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO.
Present Study: Perspective
This study explored the perspective of library staff, who work directly with all students
Participants…
o Main criterion: working one-on-one with students
o Four subject librarians and one library technician took part
o 2 Males, 3 Females
Interview Questions
16 questions on three themes:
Librarianship
Educational Background
First Generation Familiarity
Objectives
Determine participants’ understanding of first generation students’ as a unique user group
Learn what the library has/offers to help these students in their work
Professional Experience
All participants had worked in other library settings
Experience in the academic library ranged from 7 months to 24.5 years.
Participants’ Education
o Education ranged from a 3-year Bachelor’s Degree with a postgraduate diploma to a Doctorate
Familial Education The 4 librarians had at least one
parent with a university education
1 librarian's mother had been an off-campus student
The library technician was a first generation student
First-Generation Familiarity
The actual term “first generation students” could imply more than one meaning
Estimated Demographics
Estimates reflected geographic locations of schools and knowledge of current social trends in higher education pursuits
Estimated Demographics
Geography was also implied in Familial social-economic status and occupational background: local industry base rural versus urban settings inner city versus suburban
accessibility and resources
Perceived Challenges
o Lack of familial support (i.e. experience)
o Separation by distance
o Uncertainty about academic expectations
Perceived Challenges
o Anxiety, “fear of the unknown”
o Seek guidance outside the family
o Financing the education
In the Library...
Technology played a major role in library services and instruction:o Access to equipment for students
without their owno Using materials from online
sources creates a greater need for instruction
Bridging a gap?
Technology may actually place first generation students on similar footing:o High schools have similar equipmento Older students may have used
same technology at work
Recollections of the Library
The library technician recalled the academic library seemed alien, compared to the public library:o Size of libraryo Did not know where to go for help
Recollections of the Library
The librarian whose mother was educated off-campus found the adjustment a little easiero Had worked in a public libraryo Experience as a staff member may
have helped
Services and Outreach Today
Two of the librarians work with students in their study environmento Sessions held in first-year residences o Working with recent medical
graduates on-site
Services and Outreach Today
Remote access, and availability during “off peak” times:o Phone or email reference desko Instant messaging (popular, but
limited subject speciality)
Getting Noticed...
All 5 participants admitted they had been “self-reliant” in the library as undergraduateso One had even skipped the
“instruction session” days in class
Getting Noticed...
Participation in creative ways to let the university community know what they have to offer
The fall orientation period is a major time to be involved
Other Suggestions to Help...
Ideally, the library would be involved with other campus services, and collaborate with departments...
Targeting initiatives for specific groups is useful
Discussion
Location was another underlying theme in the interviews
The 4 subject librarians represented the 2 largest libraries (out of 6)
Discussion
The Library Technician worked in a subject library, but actually apart from the main system
Communications on services between the main system and outlying libraries is limited
Discussion
Service availability also varied by libraryo E.g. Instant messaging only for
science/medicineo The subject-specific library was on a
separate LAN, which required students to be on-site
Conclusion
The participants interviewed recognise challenges facing first generation students
Many services and outreach (especially in the first year) can help these students adjust
And Finally...
Whatever the means to improve chances of a first generation student succeeding, the experiential benefits go beyond the time spent in school