Members Sharing presentation delivered by Keith Walker at the 2012 BLA conference held in Stirling from 4-6 July.

1. STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND BID
“Improving Library information
resource awareness and
competency for students from
China”

2. WHY?
• International students are important to the University
– Global recognition
– Investment
• Positively support by helping to improve retention
– Chinese students must adapt to the Western approach to learning
– Our own experience shows lack of awareness and confidence in
information literacy skills
– However we assume a certain level of information literacy and library
use in our cultural approach to education
• Improving customer service
• In line with Library & University objectives

3. WHAT
• Research the library related needs of Chinese
students
• Develop resources and approaches to address their
difficulties
• Prepare and deliver training
– International partners
– Academic staff
– Library staff

4. HOW
• survey and interview Chinese students and their teaching staff to
ascertain where there are skills gaps in their handling and use of
information resources;
• audit existing information literacy materials and assess their
relevance to the students;
• identify barriers to the successful use of information resources;
• establish ways by which the materials can be introduced to
students before they leave China and can continue to be used
once they arrive at Napier;
• identify training needs for Library and academic staff and create
training materials to assist staff in their support for students;

5. Visit to China
Shandong
University of
Finance
Zhengzhou
University of
Light Industry
Shanghai
Normal
University

6. What did I find out?
• Chinese academic libraries very similar to ours
• Many similar e-resources (Ebsco, Emerald, Proquest, Science
Direct etc)
• Most Chinese students use the library for study but do not read
widely around a subject.
• Emphasis on examinations, not essays or assignments
• E-resources not widely used by students – Baidu (Chinese
equivalent of Google) most popular.

7. Conclusions
• Pedagogical difference main issue
– Entering in 3rd/4th year but similar to school leaver
– Critical skills lacking
• Contextualise the role of Library in terms of academic skills –
why should the Library be used? They know “how”, but not
“why”
• Encourage pre arrival students to access English language e-
resources from their libraries in China
• Feed into and help support languages staff who go to China for
pre-entry work with the students
• Be aware of activities at Edinburgh Napier that the Library can
input to

8. The End Product…