USER EDUCATION FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS IN HIGHER-EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND

Since the 1970s library user education has been increasingly recognized as an integral part of a student's academic career. However, the point that all students are not the same is inclined to be forgotten. An increasingly large number of foreign students are being recruited by Scottish higher education institutions, from vastly different backgrounds and cultures, and each with a unique perception of libraries and library use. This paper sets out to establish whether students from overseas have cultural and language problems when using the library; to determine the effectiveness of the user education provided for these students; and to assess library staff awareness of the problems faced by such students. Results from two surveys indicate that the problems are very real, and that many library staff are unaware of, or unconcerned about, the effect these problems are having on overseas students' library use and academic performance. Solutions and techniques to alleviate these problems are suggested, and the study concludes that there is a need for more staff training and effective evaluation of user education programmes.