Transforming for our transfers: The creation of a Transfer Student Services Librarian

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Lisa Coats, Humanities Librarian (Creator)

Anne Pemberton, Associate Director, Research and Instructional Services and Library Assessment (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )

Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Abstract: PurposeThis paper aims to describe the unique library, research and information literacy skills that transfer students need, specifically at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, which led to the creation, recruitment and appointment of a Transfer Student Services Librarian at William Madison Randall Library (Randall Library).Design/methodology/approachAlong with a brief review of the relevant literature, this paper describes the specific needs that were identified that led to the creation of the position; the unique gaps in information skills that transfer students have; how the university was addressing the needs of transfer students; how the library became focused on the needs of this population of students; how the library began collaborating with campus partners to address these needs; and, to date, how the position has impacted transfer students.FindingsAn increase in the number of transfer students from community colleges, four year institutions and military service combined with the institution’s information literacy curriculum requirements, led to the creation of a new position called “Transfer Student Services Librarian”.Practical implicationsAcademic libraries wishing to explore the creation of such a position, or wanting to assess their own institution’s needs for their transfer student population, will benefit from this paper.Originality/valueFew, if any, libraries have adopted a position specifically for transfer student services and this paper addresses how to assess the need and decide on practical applications for other academic libraries.

Transforming for our transfers: The creation of a Transfer Student Services Librarian
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Created on 12/7/2017
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Additional Information

Publication

Coats, L. R., & Pemberton, A. E. (2017). Transforming for our transfers: The creation of a Transfer Student Services Librarian. Reference Services Review, 45(3), 485–497. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-11-2016-0079

Language: English

Date: 2017

Keywords

Academic libraries, Library services, Information literacy, Transfer students, Military students, Students in transition

Subjects

Academic libraries

Libraries and college students

Information literacy

Transfer students

Military education

Returned students

Students, transfer of

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