National Seminar Series 2014/2015
Title: The Academic Library’s Role in Supporting New Students: Transition Success and Retention
Theme: Teaching for Transitions
Date: 30.04.2015
Host Inst.(s): University of Limerick
Venue: The Pavilion, University of Limerick, Limerick
No. of participants: 44
Institutions represented:
Dublin City University
Dublin IT
NUI Galway
Maynooth University
Dundalk IT
Mary Immaculate College
Galway-Mayo IT
University College Cork
IT Sligo
University College Dublin
IT Tralee
University of Limerick
IT Blanchardstown
Limerick IT
UCC Writing Centre
UL Teaching & Learning
Waterford IT
Contact: Ciara McCaffrey
Link to recording (if applicable): N/A
Key insights from the day (in bullets):
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Academic libraries have a long record of supporting students throughout their student
career, through the provision of collections, services and information skills teaching.
However, focusing specifically on students in transition presents a new challenge and
opportunity for libraries.
Many Irish libraries are seeking ways that they can support new students and the strategic
goals of their universities, but are struggling with traditional library roles and structures as
well as with limited resources.
Examples of best practice in this area are as yet limited but are slowly emerging both
nationally and internationally.
There is a need for libraries to proactively work with other university departments such as
Student Services and Information Technology divisions. However, the organisational
structures of traditional universities present challenges which need to be addressed.
The potential for the library to build on its long record of information literacy skills to
support the development of digital literacy skills in the university emerged as an obvious
opportunity
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It is apparent from studies carried out that institutional habitus has a direct bearing on
student persistence and success. The elements listed as contributing positively to student
retention included; the importance of staff attitudes and relationships with students, an
awareness of previous, different, learning environments, the need for staff development to
promote inclusive attitudes and the importance of University support services.
Key contributions from the seminar to the broader Forum outlined theme (Max 300 words):
The 2014/15 National Seminar Series theme of ‘Teaching for Transitions’ formed the basis of the
event. Academic librarians have been aware of the issues around student transition, success and
retention for a number of years and have been cognisant of the importance of these issues for their
parent organisations. An actionable role for academic libraries to directly support strategic goals
around retention and student success is beginning to emerge. The seminar was the first event in the
Irish academic library community that focused solely the topic of supporting and retaining students
in transition.
The seminar showcased examples of libraries in the UK and Ireland that are shifting their strategic
focus to align themselves more closely with their university’s priorities around student retention.
Examples of important new roles that libraries are engaging in to support new students included the
use of student peer support, digital literacy programmes, outreach to secondary school students and
collaborative working with other university divisions. The event also provided an opportunity for
many librarians and non-librarians in these new and emerging roles to make connections and
network with each other for the first time.
What we plan to do in the future building on this event (Max 300 words):
At the University of Limerick we have created a new post of Librarian, Student Engagement and
Success, who will work with newly appointed officers in Student Services and the Centre for
Teaching and Learning, in a three-pronged university-wide approach focusing on the support and
retention of new students. This new librarian will build on the many examples of good practice
which were presented at the seminar. Our aim is to become a centre of excellence in how the
library supports new students and to share our new knowledge and experience with the Irish
academic library community going forward.