ITS Library Buddy: A New ITS Library Program to Support International Students

Surabaya — The Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Library is launching a new program titled “ITS Library Buddy,” which will begin in November 2026. This program is designed to assist international students in learning about, utilizing, and making the most of the ITS Library’s facilities and services, while also helping them adapt to the library environment.

Through this program, international students have a space to voice questions, complaints, or challenges related to accessing information and library services in English. Students can contact the ITS Library’s official WhatsApp channel or Customer Service directly. Subsequently, each issue will be addressed through guidance and support from competent librarians to ensure the information provided is accurate and to minimize misunderstandings caused by language barriers.

ITS Library Buddy offers four types of services: Customer Service Officers (CSOs) to provide general information and guidance both online and in person; Visits to facilitate visits by international students, global partner delegations, and institutional guests; Research & Academic Support to assist with literature searches, collection use, and information on academic procedures related to the library; and Community & Culture as a space for interaction and discussion between international and local students, organized in collaboration with the ITS Literacy Club (ILC).

To facilitate access, the ITS Library Buddy service is available at several locations within the ITS Library, including the Customer Service Officer desk in the 1st-floor lobby, the Reference Room on the 3rd floor, and the Circulation Room on the 5th floor. This program is expected to create a library environment that is more responsive, interactive, inclusive, and welcoming to international students, while also supporting their academic and research needs during their studies at ITS.