About the Book

This book focuses on the unique needs of parenting students and the role that academic libraries can play in helping this group to succeed. Our intent is to provide four-year colleges and universities with the information they need to support students with dependent children. The book details the presence, demographics, and needs of parenting students and calls for universities to adapt higher education systems.

Academic libraries are well-situated to serve parenting students, who are still often overlooked or underserved by both libraries and other student support systems. This cohort, representing over a quarter of students on university campuses, faces unique challenges in completing their studies. Supporting caregiving students aligns with diversity and inclusion initiatives already being pursued in higher education. The 26% of students trying to balance a college workload with parenthood are disproportionately more likely to be single mothers, low-income, first-generation college students, and/or in an underrepresented racial category. Supporting parenting students can have a positive multigenerational impact. and a parents' education has many lasting economic and educational benefits.

It is crucial that the academic library take an active role in these efforts. This book provides critical information about how.