An Exploratory Study

Librarians’ Understanding of First Generation Students’ Concerns and Needs:

Karina Miki Douglas, MLIS 2007The University of Western Ontario

Acknowledgements

I would also like to thank Dr. Anabel Quan-Haase, Faculty of Information and Medias Studies and Dr. Ron Hansen, Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario for co-supervising this research project.

What does “first generation student” imply to you?

Question

ERIC Thesaurus Definition

“Students who are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education - more strictly refers to students whose parents have attained education at or below the high school level.”

Note: The Controlled Vocabulary Term is First Generation College Students.

Some Characteristics…

• Around 1/3rd of all students

• Lower income backgrounds

• Often older than 18-23

Some Characteristics…

• Part-time Enrolment

• Commute to School, rather than live in residence

Some Characteristics…

• More likely belong to a visible minority

• More likely to have experienced racial discrimination

• (Terenzini et al., 1996; Grayson, 1997; Tyckoson, 2000; Choy, 2001)

Not Just Undergraduates…

First generation status still poses challenges for students at the graduate-level

An even smaller minority carry on to graduate studies

Keep in Mind…

These are just a few common tendencies, far from serving as a template applicable to all first generation students

Identity as a Group…

The defining characteristic of being first is intrinsic

First generation students are a hidden minority

Challenges…

“Research shows that being the first member of a family to go to university is the hardest barrier to break.”

• The Times (UK): University Squeeze on Children of Graduates, March 16, 2007

Academic Challenges

• Did not prepare enough in high school• Other commitments besides class• Time management• May feel intimidated • Drop in grades; risk for academic

probation • Do not know where to get help

Assimilation Challenges

• Socio-economic differences• Cannot fall back on familial experience• Limited/Conflicted support from home• Expectations and pre-conceived notion

versus reality of higher education• Age and experiential differences in the

lifecourse

First generation students have a much higher risk for attrition than their continuing generation peers.

Consequently…

Influences on Education

The strongest influences on a child’s educational aspirations include:Parents’ level of education

attainedParents’ attitudes towards higher

education HRDC (2004), Aspirations of

Canadian Youth for Higher Education

Hope for Success…

Making Gains…

Academic success relates to better assimilation

Making Gains…

Using the school library on a regular basis led to more academic gains

• (Eg: Terenzini et al, 1996; Grayson, 1997; Pike & Kuh, 2005)

“Library Experiences”

Most literature available comes from Educational Studies

Behaviours defining “library experiences” convey a document-based view of the academic library

“Library Experiences”

• A quiet place to read/study• Browsing• Asking for help• Reading extra materials for class• Using an index/database• Developing a bibliography• Reading a cited reference

• Pike & Kuh (2005)

Basis of the Present Study:

“Library service for the first-generation college student.”

David A. TyckosonHEAD OF PUBLIC SERVICES, HENRY MADDEN LIBRARY AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO.

Present Study: Perspective

This study explored the perspective of library staff, who work directly with all students

Participants…

o Main criterion: working one-on-one with students

o Four subject librarians and one library technician took part

o 2 Males, 3 Females

Interview Questions

16 questions on three themes:

Librarianship

Educational Background

First Generation Familiarity

Objectives

Determine participants’ understanding of first generation students’ as a unique user group

Learn what the library has/offers to help these students in their work

Professional Experience

All participants had worked in other library settings

Experience in the academic library ranged from 7 months to 24.5 years.

Participants’ Education

o Education ranged from a 3-year Bachelor’s Degree with a postgraduate diploma to a Doctorate

Familial Education The 4 librarians had at least one

parent with a university education

1 librarian's mother had been an off-campus student

The library technician was a first generation student

First-Generation Familiarity

The actual term “first generation students” could imply more than one meaning

Estimated Demographics

Estimates reflected geographic locations of schools and knowledge of current social trends in higher education pursuits

Estimated Demographics

Geography was also implied in Familial social-economic status and occupational background: local industry base rural versus urban settings inner city versus suburban

accessibility and resources

Perceived Challenges

o Lack of familial support (i.e. experience)

o Separation by distance

o Uncertainty about academic expectations

Perceived Challenges

o Anxiety, “fear of the unknown”

o Seek guidance outside the family

o Financing the education

In the Library...

Technology played a major role in library services and instruction:o Access to equipment for students

without their owno Using materials from online

sources creates a greater need for instruction

Bridging a gap?

Technology may actually place first generation students on similar footing:o High schools have similar equipmento Older students may have used

same technology at work

Recollections of the Library

The library technician recalled the academic library seemed alien, compared to the public library:o Size of libraryo Did not know where to go for help

Recollections of the Library

The librarian whose mother was educated off-campus found the adjustment a little easiero Had worked in a public libraryo Experience as a staff member may

have helped

Services and Outreach Today

Two of the librarians work with students in their study environmento Sessions held in first-year residences o Working with recent medical

graduates on-site

Services and Outreach Today

Remote access, and availability during “off peak” times:o Phone or email reference desko Instant messaging (popular, but

limited subject speciality)

Getting Noticed...

All 5 participants admitted they had been “self-reliant” in the library as undergraduateso One had even skipped the

“instruction session” days in class

Getting Noticed...

Participation in creative ways to let the university community know what they have to offer

The fall orientation period is a major time to be involved

Other Suggestions to Help...

Ideally, the library would be involved with other campus services, and collaborate with departments...

Targeting initiatives for specific groups is useful

Discussion

Location was another underlying theme in the interviews

The 4 subject librarians represented the 2 largest libraries (out of 6)

Discussion

The Library Technician worked in a subject library, but actually apart from the main system

Communications on services between the main system and outlying libraries is limited

Discussion

Service availability also varied by libraryo E.g. Instant messaging only for

science/medicineo The subject-specific library was on a

separate LAN, which required students to be on-site

Conclusion

The participants interviewed recognise challenges facing first generation students

Many services and outreach (especially in the first year) can help these students adjust

And Finally...

Whatever the means to improve chances of a first generation student succeeding, the experiential benefits go beyond the time spent in school

And Finally...

As one participant noted, her experience as a student has been passed along to her children, such that they now have an idea of what to expect in their higher education endeavours