Abstract
The purpose of this project was to study problems English language learners (ELLs) face when doing research in U.S. academic libraries. A review of the literature indicates that ELLs face both linguistic and cultural barriers. Those barriers are related to learning expectations, library anxiety, and technology. Research on organizational culture and its influence on website design was consulted and used to compare the design of a library catalog’s interface with student responses to a library instruction session offered within Composition 101 for non-native speakers. Based on those results, it is argued that library catalogs are designed to match the cultural expectations of mainstream U.S. audiences and that focused library instruction may help ELLs become more comfortable doing library research.
Advisor
Nancy Drescher
Committee Member
Stephen Stoynoff
Date of Degree
2007
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
English
College
Arts and Humanities
Recommended Citation
Schomberg, J. (2007). English Language Learners and Library Research [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/576/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Information Literacy Commons
Rights Statement
