Libraries as a bridge for new students: Welcome to university life

To welcome the students who entered CRUCH universities in 2025, the libraries designed various strategies to ensure they became familiar with their services. These included technology training sessions, recreational activities, and other initiatives.

March is a key month for Chilean universities, marking the start of a new academic year and the arrival of thousands of students to higher education. In this context, university libraries play a fundamental role in integrating first-year students, providing learning spaces, guidance, and support to enhance their academic development.

At the start of the 2025 academic year, various institutions have developed innovative activities to welcome new students, promoting the use of their resources and fostering camaraderie from the first days.

In the north of the country, the University of Tarapacá She organized an orientation and participated in the Freshman Fair to inform new students about library services. University of Antofagasta, For her part, she gave a talk during the induction week, focusing on access to digital and physical resources to strengthen students' information literacy skills. Northern Catholic University It combined guided tours, technology assistance days and a welcome fair, allowing students to learn about the library's key tools.

In the central area, the University of Santiago, Chile USACH participated in the USACH Inicia activity, where nearly 4,000 new students toured the Central Library facilities and received an introduction to library services. In the Fifth Region, the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso It conducted more than 60 inductions and participated in student fairs, highlighting the interest of new students in its services.

Likewise, the University of Valparaíso It developed activities to publicize its bibliographic resources and promote their use from the beginning of the academic year. For its part, the University of Playa Ancha He conducted orientations, welcoming undergraduate, postgraduate and technical students, with a very successful turnout of approximately 1600 students, who toured the university facilities and each of the libraries.

Further south, the University of Concepcion It opted for playful activities, board games, and information sessions to welcome students in a dynamic and friendly environment. Catholic University of the Holy Conception It organized workshops and information booths on its campuses, guiding new students in using library services. Similarly, the Border University It carried out an Integration Week “I am UFRO 2025” with multiple activities, promoting institutional identity and camaraderie.

In the southern zone, the Austral University of Chile It implemented induction workshops at its various campuses, with the aim of teaching students how to search for information and use the study spaces. University of the Lakes, At its Osorno campus, it conducted guided tours, presentations on digital platforms, and a program to promote recreational reading.

Other universities also stood out with innovative initiatives: the University of the Andes It distributed a User Guide and used Instagram to inform about its services; O'Higgins University organized talks and training sessions on access to academic literature; and the Atacama University It implemented a mandatory online induction course, ensuring that all students are aware of the available services.

Finally, the Catholic University of Maule They opted for an interactive circuit in their Talca library, achieving high student participation. Alberto Hurtado University, Meanwhile, it offered guided tours with exclusive access to book repositories, giving new students a comprehensive overview of its resources. Arturo Prat University It combined informative talks and personalized attention at its event, Transition to University Life Experience (ETVU).

These initiatives reflect the commitment of university libraries to the holistic development of students, reaffirming their role as centers of learning and academic support. From recreational activities to technology training, each institution has designed strategies to ensure that new students become familiar with their services, thus strengthening their path in higher education.