Library ambassador for international students

Bridging cultures and fostering inclusive learning in academic libraries

Abstract

Internationalization is a central component of the institutional profile development of German universities, which is why it is important to systematically advance and strengthen it. It also applies to university libraries which are increasingly challenged to strengthen inclusive, accessible and culturally responsive services especially for foreign students. This paper presents the case study of University of Passau where the concept of a library ambassador was strategically reinterpreted and adopted as “International Library Ambassador” in order to address specific needs and challenges of the international students. It outlines the developmental process over the first eight months which includes needs assessment, role design, targeted outreach, communication support, and a variety of engagement activities. Since the project is still a work in progress, we have also documented early observations, key takeaways, and some ideas for future implementation. The focus in general is to help international students and the library staff manage linguistic, cultural, and structural barriers. The model is transferable and can therefore be used by other academic libraries seeking to enhance support structures for international students in today’s evolving higher education landscape.