INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN ACADEMIC-LIBRARIES - A USER SURVEY

A study was undertaken to identify characteristics of the international student population and determine these students' patterns of library use. Analyses were carried out to measure a number of relationships concerning the students' prior use of microcomputers, both in libraries and otherwise, and their current perceived difficulties using libraries. Findings suggest that not all international students arrive in the United States with appropriate information retrieval skills to take advantage of automated bibliographic access systems. Libraries may need to make special efforts to extend instructional services to these students.