Date Created

2019

Abstract

This review offers a critical analysis of the library and information science (LIS) literature on first-generation students (FGS) from the last 40 years. This literature demonstrates an interest in understanding the needs of FGS to serve them better, but it is often grounded in a deficit model of education that focuses on what first-generation students lack instead of what they have. This review identifies four predominant themes in the literature: FGS as outsiders, as a problem, as reluctant library users, and as capable students. Then it suggests possible avenues of future research, such as using a “funds of knowledge” approach to build on the learning and skills that students bring from their families and communities.

Publication Title

portal: Libraries and the Academy

Document Type

Article

Volume

19

Issue

1

First Page

177

Last Page

196

DOI

10.1353/pla.2019.0009

Keywords

first-generation students; first-generation college students; library and information science; library science literature; academic libraries; funds of knowledge

Digital Origin

Born digital

Publisher

The Johns Hopkins University Press

Download

Share

COinS