Understanding How Students Develop: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Understanding How Students Develop is a one-stop source of practical advice for both librarians who are just beginning to work with students from elementary school through college, as well as helpful tips for seasoned library user services professionals, including school, reference, instruction, and outreach librarians.
The book supplies a detailed roadmap for applying key development theories to daily interactions with students.

Subjects covered include:
Integrating development theories into practiceIntellectual development theoriesIdentity development theoryInvolvement theoryAssessing the impact of using development theoriesThroughout the book sidebars highlight practical applications, important quotations from key texts, and case studies for consideration. After reading this book, librarians who work with a wide range of users will have a practical approach for incorporating development theories into their daily practice, making them more responsive to the varying needs of their users, and more understanding of what elements of their user services programs can be better tailored to meet students at a range of developmental stages.

Hannah Gascho Rempel is associate professor at Oregon State University (OSU) Libraries in the Teaching and Engagement Department. Since joining OSU in 2007, she has spearheaded the development of OSU Libraries’ services for graduate students and has been deeply involved in the Teaching and Engagement Department’s transition to a more strategic focus on learner-centered instructional activities.

Kelly McElroy is assistant professor and student engagement and community outreach librarian at OSU Libraries. She is the coeditor of the two-volume book Critical Library Pedagogy Handbook, which won the 2017 ACRL Instruction Section Rockman Publication of the Year Award.

Laurie M. Bridges is associate professor and instruction and outreach librarian at OSU Libraries. She has served for more than five years as a graduate advisor and thesis committee chair for numerous students in the OSU College Student Services Administration program.