12 · Survey Results: Executive Summary
institution in North America provide library services
remotely. Slightly fewer than half also rely on a host
partner for access to physical and online resources
and staff to provide services. Only nine home institu-
tions provide collections at the study abroad site and
only five of those have staff who provide services. In
open-ended comments, several respondents reiter-
ated that students and faculty with a valid ID and an
Internet connection have access to all the same online
resources and services wherever they are located.
Administration of Library Support for Study
Abroad Program
In all but one case, the library at the home institu-
tion administers library support for students and
faculty in study abroad programs. In the other case,
the host institution administers support. In a third
of the programs, administration is shared between
the home and host libraries. In a few cases, the home
library partners with a study abroad or distance edu-
cation office or an academic department at the home
institution.
About a third of the programs have a single in-
dividual who has administrative responsibility for
library support services. Half of these individuals
have a title that includes some variation of distance
education. Others are reference or area studies librar-
ians, or manage public or access services or a branch
library.
The other two-thirds of the respondents described
library support for study abroad along the lines of the
following: “Services to all students at a distance are
built into existing services: ILL, e-reference, and ac-
cess to online resources.”
Funding of Library Support for Study Abroad
Program
A majority of respondents (22 or 71%) report that
funding for these library services comes from the
home library’s general, acquisitions, and/or person-
nel budgets. Or as one respondent commented, “This
work is absorbed into regular collections and ser-
vices.” A few libraries also receive some funds from
the home or host institution or student fees. Only
two libraries report that they receive funds from a
separate institutional budget for the study abroad
program.
Study Abroad Program Library
If employees of the home institution provide library
services and access to library resources in a physical
location at the study abroad site, respondents were
asked to answer questions about the collections,
equipment, and staff in that facility. There were five
responses.
Collections
These five collections include books, journals, AV
materials, maps, and reference works. The number
of items ranges from just over 100 to 12,000. All five
respondents report that the collection is catalogued
and searchable as a discreet collection, though only
three say the materials are included and searchable
in the home library OPAC. Circulation policies are
similar to the home library’s.
Equipment and Staffing
All of the libraries provide desktop computers and
printers. Since most students bring their own laptops,
two provide wireless Internet access and only one has
a loaner laptop. Four have photocopiers but only two
have scanners. Two provide video equipment. Three
of the libraries are staffed by one non-librarian pro-
fessional, two of whom work full-time. A fourth has
one librarian and two additional support staff. The
fifth is staffed by two librarians and a few student
assistants.
Library Services for the Study Abroad Program
In addition to the online resources that are available
to all students and faculty who have a valid ID and
Internet connection, study abroad participants also
receive a range of library services. All but one of the
30 responding libraries offer reference service the
other only offers document delivery. Eleven libraries
offer a combination of reference, ILL and/or docu-
ment delivery, and instruction. Ten others offer at
least reference and ILL or document delivery.
institution in North America provide library services
remotely. Slightly fewer than half also rely on a host
partner for access to physical and online resources
and staff to provide services. Only nine home institu-
tions provide collections at the study abroad site and
only five of those have staff who provide services. In
open-ended comments, several respondents reiter-
ated that students and faculty with a valid ID and an
Internet connection have access to all the same online
resources and services wherever they are located.
Administration of Library Support for Study
Abroad Program
In all but one case, the library at the home institu-
tion administers library support for students and
faculty in study abroad programs. In the other case,
the host institution administers support. In a third
of the programs, administration is shared between
the home and host libraries. In a few cases, the home
library partners with a study abroad or distance edu-
cation office or an academic department at the home
institution.
About a third of the programs have a single in-
dividual who has administrative responsibility for
library support services. Half of these individuals
have a title that includes some variation of distance
education. Others are reference or area studies librar-
ians, or manage public or access services or a branch
library.
The other two-thirds of the respondents described
library support for study abroad along the lines of the
following: “Services to all students at a distance are
built into existing services: ILL, e-reference, and ac-
cess to online resources.”
Funding of Library Support for Study Abroad
Program
A majority of respondents (22 or 71%) report that
funding for these library services comes from the
home library’s general, acquisitions, and/or person-
nel budgets. Or as one respondent commented, “This
work is absorbed into regular collections and ser-
vices.” A few libraries also receive some funds from
the home or host institution or student fees. Only
two libraries report that they receive funds from a
separate institutional budget for the study abroad
program.
Study Abroad Program Library
If employees of the home institution provide library
services and access to library resources in a physical
location at the study abroad site, respondents were
asked to answer questions about the collections,
equipment, and staff in that facility. There were five
responses.
Collections
These five collections include books, journals, AV
materials, maps, and reference works. The number
of items ranges from just over 100 to 12,000. All five
respondents report that the collection is catalogued
and searchable as a discreet collection, though only
three say the materials are included and searchable
in the home library OPAC. Circulation policies are
similar to the home library’s.
Equipment and Staffing
All of the libraries provide desktop computers and
printers. Since most students bring their own laptops,
two provide wireless Internet access and only one has
a loaner laptop. Four have photocopiers but only two
have scanners. Two provide video equipment. Three
of the libraries are staffed by one non-librarian pro-
fessional, two of whom work full-time. A fourth has
one librarian and two additional support staff. The
fifth is staffed by two librarians and a few student
assistants.
Library Services for the Study Abroad Program
In addition to the online resources that are available
to all students and faculty who have a valid ID and
Internet connection, study abroad participants also
receive a range of library services. All but one of the
30 responding libraries offer reference service the
other only offers document delivery. Eleven libraries
offer a combination of reference, ILL and/or docu-
ment delivery, and instruction. Ten others offer at
least reference and ILL or document delivery.
