International Students: Different Countries, Different LibrariesThis is a featured page

Different Countries…Different Libraries

If there is one word that could sum up American education and American libraries, that word would be independence. Here are some ways that value is expressed in the library.

College Library Here
Open Shelves

Students are expected to find and retrieve library books. With a few exceptions, students are not only free but encouraged to go anywhere in the library and handle the books and materials.

College Library There
Closed Shelves

In many countries, students are not allowed in the book stacks. A library worker fetches the books for them. Some students are quite surprised when they find out they are expected to get the books themselves. Here is some information to help you locate books.
Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers

College Library Here
Professional

Not everyone who works in a library is a librarian. College reference librarians have at least one, and sometimes more, advanced degrees. They have a Masters Degree in library science as well as degrees in academic disciplines. Librarianship is considered a profession. Here is information about some of our librarians.
Subject Specialists

College Library There
Skilled

In some countries librarians are considered skilled workers but not necessarily professionals. A librarian might not be one of the people that students think of for help.

College Library Here
Research
Creativity, problem-solving, evaluation, self-sufficiency, and critical thinking are skills prized by U.S. professors. Writing essays or term papers allow the students to demonstrate that they can learn independently outside of the lecture hall. Here are some first steps to set you on the road to independent research.
Library Catalog: Keyword Search Academic Search Premier

College Library There
Recitation

Undergraduates may use the library as a study space to memorize material from the textbook or lectures.

College Library Here
Original

Students are expected to identify their original ideas and credit the work of others. The library provides the information students need to cite these works. Here is some information to help you avoid plagiarism.
Internet Detective

College Library There
Expert

Unless the professor specifically asks for a student’s original thoughts, it is assumed that the student is referring to the writing of experts.

College Library Here
Free
College libraries try to make as many services free as possible. Virtual reference, interlibrary loan, room reservations, WiFi , special programs, and a book club are just a few of our free services. Printing and photocopying are NOT free, unfortunately. Here is a list of computer labs where students can make a set number of free printouts
Computer Lab Hours .

College Library There
Fee
In some countries there may be fees attached to some services or a particular service may simply not be available at all. For example, some libraries do not offer interlibrary loan service. Never be afraid to ask for something in an American library because you think it might cost money.

Multilingual library jargon
http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=j8675844&si=v98419632&pc=r2093&ei=a279819
Understanding library jargon, terms such asOPAC, CD-ROM, microfiche, holdings, or stacks, can be difficult for anyone who is not a regular user of the library. The difficulty is compounded for English as a Second Language speakers who must process these specialized terms in a language that is not their native one. ACRL's Instruction Section has put together a Multilingual Glossary in two parts: a Language Table http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=k8675845&si=v98419632&pc=s2094&ei=a279819, which presents a list of these terms in six languages, and Definitions http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=l8675846&si=v98419632&pc=t2095&ei=a279819, gives explanations in English for each of the terms.




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TobeyStein
Latest page update: made by TobeyStein , Dec 10 2008, 11:13 AM EST (about this update About This Update TobeyStein Edited by TobeyStein

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