SPEC Kit 309: Library Support for Study Abroad (December 2008)
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SPEC Kit 309: Library Support for Study Abroad · 11 Executive Summary Introduction Research universities have long supported study abroad programs of varying nature, including short- term study tours and service learning experiences, as well as semester- and year-long academic programs. For this survey, “study abroad program” was broadly defined as a short-term, formal, credit-bearing edu- cational program taking place outside of the country of the home institution. As society becomes more globally focused, and industry requires workers who are prepared to work in a multinational environ- ment, these programs are becoming more critical to America’s competitiveness. Providing research materials and library servic- es targeted to participants in these programs is a particular challenge. This survey was designed to explore how ARL member libraries are responding to the needs of faculty and student participants in various types of study abroad programs. It explored which library services and resources are provided to participants, how library support is staffed and administered, whether collections are physical or online, and how services are delivered. The survey was distributed to the 123 ARL mem- ber libraries in May 2008. Fifty-three libraries com- pleted the survey by the deadline of June 27 for a 43% response rate. Forty-four of the respondents (83%) reported that their university sponsors study abroad programs. The number of programs per institution ranges from as few as two to as many as 1200, with an average of 141 and a median of 50. At 26 institutions, study abroad programs receive library support, at 12 they do not. Four respondents did not supply this data, though one explained, “The programs don’t re- ceive library support but the individual students are supported.” The 12 respondents from libraries that do not support study abroad programs submitted the survey at this point. Description of Study Abroad Program The remaining 32 respondents were asked to select one representative program and describe its location, subjects offered, duration, and number of students and faculty. Some described the overall program. Not surprisingly, programs are located around the world and cover a full range of disciplines. They vary in length from a few weeks to a semester to a year or more. The number of students ranges from a handful to over a thousand. The number of faculty is propor- tional to the number of students and subjects offered, with as few as one and as many as 68 faculty spread across a number of locations. Half of the programs are at a campus that is ad- ministered by a partner host institution. Only three are at a campus that is administered by the home institution. Others are in rented spaces, field stations or, in the case of the Semester at Sea, on a ship. Library Support Provided to Study Abroad Program All of the responding libraries report that students and faculty have remote access to online resources through the home institution in North America. Twenty-three (74%) report that employees at the home