Library Experience and Information Literacy Learning of First Year International Students - An Australian Case Study

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by jay

This qualitative case study examines how first-year international undergraduate students use libraries and information at an Australian university and how those experiences shape their information literacy learning needs. Conducted in 2015, the study provides evidence to guide library space design and information literacy support to strengthen students’ transition and learning. It situates the case study in relevant research, identifies gaps, and applies questionnaires, interviews, and thematic analysis to interpret student-generated insights.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

International students’ transition to university

Purpose and structure of the paper

Case Study Context

Internationalised higher education

Profile of QUT and the library

QUT as the study site

International student composition and pathway programs

Help and information literacy learning provided by QUT Library

Integrated literacies approach

Library Experience and Information Literacy Learning of First Year International Students: An Australian Case Study Hilary Hughes, Queensland University of Technology Nerilee Hall, Queensland University of Technology Megan Pozzi, Queensland University of Technology Abstract This qualitative case study provides fresh understandings about first year undergraduate international students’ library and information use at an Australian university, and their associated information literacy learning needs. The findings provide evidence to inform the development of library spaces and information literacy responses that enhance international students’transition and learning. The study was conducted in 2015 as part ofa project that simultaneously investigated the same topic at three US universities. This paper presents the case study context, reviews relevant literature and identifies gaps in research about international students’ library use and information literacy, and outlines the qualitative methodology—questionnaire, interviews and thematic analysis. The findings reveal international students’ lived experiences of using the library and information, in general and for assignments. After presenting the students’recommendations to the library, the paper discusses the wider implications of the findings for university libraries and information literacy innovation. Keywords: international students; academic libraries; university libraries; library environment; information literacy; informed learning Hughes, H., Hall, N. & Pozzi, M. (2017) . Library experience and information literacy learning of first year international students: An Australian case study. Communications in Information Literacy, 11(2), 302-323. Copyright for articles published in Communications in Information Literacy is retained by the author(s). Author(s) also extend to Communications in Information Literacy the right to redistribute this article via other scholarly resources and bibliographic databases. This extension allows the authors'copyrighted content to be included in some databases that are distributed and maintained by for-profit companies. All other rights of redistribution are licensed by Communications in Information Literacy under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BYNC-SA 4 .0) . Library Experience and Information Literacy Learning of First Year International Students: An Australian Case Study Introduction Transitioning to university is an educationally and socially complex experience for many undergraduate students (Maunder, Cunliffe, Galvin, Mjali, & Rogers, 2013) . This complexity is often intensified for international students by a simultaneous shifting between countries, cultural contexts, and academic environments. Although well recognised, this experience presents continuing challenges for international students and those who seek to support them, including the library. This case study presents a detailed snapshot of first year international students’ library and information use as they transitioned to undergraduate study at an Australian university in 2015. The findings enhance understanding of this experience and provide student-generated recommendations. Thus, they have educational and strategic significance for university libraries to inform the development of spaces and programs that enhance international students’transition. This paper is in six parts that: set the case study context; review relevant literature; outline the qualitative case study methodology; present findings about international students’experiences of using the library and information; offer students’recommendations to the library; and discuss wider implications for university libraries and information literacy. Case study context Internationalised higher education The internationalisation of higher education continues to increase and contribute to national economies (ICEF, 2015) . In Australia, internation

FAQs

What does the case study investigate about first-year international students?

It investigates how first-year international students use the library and information during their transition to undergraduate study, and what information literacy learning needs emerge from those experiences.

How was the study conducted in 2015?

The qualitative case study used questionnaires, interviews, and thematic analysis to develop understandings from students’ lived experiences.

What is the study’s main implication for university libraries?

The findings support designing library spaces and information literacy responses that enhance international students’ transition and learning, including student-informed recommendations.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by jay