Creating a bilingual library information environment for foreign users
| Published date | 10 April 2009 |
| Date | 10 April 2009 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470910947584 |
| Pages | 237-246 |
| Author | Fan Aihong |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Creating a bilingual library
information environment for
foreign users
Fan Aihong
Reference Department, Tsinghua University Library, Beijing, China
Abstract
Purpose – The number of international students and overseas faculty in Tsinghua University in
Beijing has grown rapidly in recent years. How to help foreign users overcome the language barrier
and make a full use of the library is a realistic problem that is encountered by many libraries. This
paper aims to introduce an exploration of Tsinghua University Library experiences and to give some
suggestions for the future.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper first describes the large influx of international
students and then analyzes the information needs of foreign users by showing the results of a user
survey conducted by the Tsinghua University Library in 2007. The library has made a great effort in
creating a bilingual information environment for foreign users. A full spectrum of practices is
presented in respect of resource, service, infrastructure and the English skill of librarians, etc.
Findings – Foreign users have multi-level needs for libraries and the language need is the most
outstanding one. As an integral part of the university community, foreign users share many
information requirements with Chinese users. Therefore, the library must try to solve the language
problem and enhance its academic support functions at the same time.
Practical implications – Libraries in non-English-speaking countries can do a lot to help foreign
users with limited local language competency to make use of the library. Building a bilingual
information environment is comprehensive systems engineering with many aspects involved.
Originality/value – This paper makes useful suggestions for creat ing a bilingual library
information environment for foreign users of today and also provides tips for future improvement.
Keywords University libraries, Overseas students, Library users,Languages, China
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Influx of international students
China has been attracting more and more international students in recent years. In
2002, there were only 85,800 international students in China; in 2007, the number
reached 195,000 with a rapid increase of 126.7 percent over the five years (Zh eng, 2003).
Established in 1911, Tsinghua University in Beijing is one of the most prominent
comprehensive universities in China. At present, there are about 4,000 faculty and
more than 30,000 students on the campus. As an open university, Tsinghua has been
active in international cooperation and exchange. There are 34 undergraduate
programs, 81 Master’s programs and 61 doctoral programs open to international
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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The paper is supported by the National Social Science Fund of China,“Subject knowledge service
in university libraries: an empirical study and development strategy” (08CTQ001))
Creating a
bilingual library
environment
237
Received 13 October 2008
Revised 30 November 2008
Accepted 2 December 2008
The Electronic Library
Vol. 27 No. 2, 2009
pp. 237-246
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470910947584
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