Memory, relationships, and spaces: Exploring transfer students' library journeys

Abstract

This article reports qualitative findings from interviews with 41 transfer students at a large public research institution in the Western United States. This study applied an asset-based action research approach. Transfer students shared their experiences with public libraries as children, in primary and secondary school libraries, and with libraries at their previous academic institutions. The findings demonstrated the power of students' memories and emotions associated with libraries. We identified student identities, relationships, and associations with library spaces as important sub-themes. We suggest practical actions for academic librarians working with transfer students.