For centuries, libraries have been an important place for students and teachers. However, as the internet has been growing so fast, the library is not much visited as it once were. Even though the library is not much visited nowadays, but students and teachers are still utilizing in for many educational purposes.
The solitude condition makes the library a good refuge after a long day at school. The rows of books of any kind become a great escape to another world. Many people gather information from books in the library. Aside from being a sanctuary for teachers and students, what is the role of library and librarians in education?
The importance of the library for education
Lots of people consider the library to be dead in these modern days because of the fast development of technology. This is completely a wrong concept since many libraries still exist across the country. Teachers also continue to offer the chance for students to visit and spend their time in the library. In the library, students will find a way to access new histories and stories that they cannot access in other places including digital media. Even though lots of collections of newspapers in libraries are being digitized and can be accessed through websites, but information obtained in print is still greater and highly respected than digital media.
The role of the librarian
We all know the importance of the library but the presence of librarians is something that not many people pay attention to. Librarians are staff working in the library to help students in finding books as well as manage the library. According to a study, the presence of a librarian helps improve student reading time compared to school without a librarian. Students, where the school library employs a full-time librarian, will likely have three times more interest in reading and writing.
Also, librarians give long-term and cumulative effects on students’ reading consistency. The main job of a librarian is not simply organizing books, but they are also involved in assisting students to read more books. Librarians instruct students to read more books both with the presence of a classroom teacher or independently. They also facilitate the use of technology in the library for teachers and students. Librarians also can provide reading incentive programs to help students read more books.
Benefits of visiting the library
Both libraries and librarians play an important role in education. Even though there is digitized information provided for free on the internet, but the library cannot be replaced with other sources. Students who frequently visit the library are likely to be prepared for better careers and college. Both the school library and librarians gives a positive impact on literacy for all students. Access to an effective library is important in developing literacy skills, especially during childhood.