Libraries and Students Success

Libraries are an important part of students' education. They offer a wide variety of resources for students of all ages. These include: books, computer labs, databases, an internet connection, study rooms, educational classes and tutors. Sometimes, all a student needs is a quiet place to study and a stable internet connection. As a student myself, I often use my local library to complete my assignments. My daughter has been going to the library since she was born!

This is a picture my daughter sent me of the inside of the Lilly Library where she studies when she is away at college. I like to have proof that she is working hard, and she knows I like the structure of university libraries. The outside is just as pretty!

School libraries are important because they are the libraries that students have the most access to. According to Jim Neal, a university librarian at Columbia University, libraries play a key role in improving student outcomes. In his article, Fight for Schools Libraries: Students Success Depends on Them, he points out that libraries perform several roles that go underappreciated: “They strengthen communities and promote civic engagement. They enrich lives. They transform learning. They enable public libraries and academic libraries to be more effective” (Neal). School libraries help students succeed and benefit the community as well. Teachers take advantage of school libraries to help their students learn. According to Angela Pascopella, “when library media staff collaborate with teachers, average reading scores increase by 8 percent to 21 percent” (Pascopella). Students, especially younger children, benefit from library use, and set them up for success. They make them lifelong readers. At the college level, library usage can help students with research papers and any assignment they need. Librarians are there to help them to find the right information. Students need librarians to help them learn to be confident with using library resources and become more independent.This short video highlights the need for school libraries to help students who may not know how to conduct research.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTslgjLEzLw&feature=emb_logo

Public libraries also help unconventional learners in their communities. Libraries offer classes to the community on reading, writing and pronunciation which is helpful for foreign students for whom English is their second language. Libraries support their patrons and often offer seminars on how to access the resources they offer. For example, this may include information on how to download books, magazines and articles onto smartphones, computers and laptops. 

Libraries provide resources for everyone, but students rely on them for their academic needs, and may be the ones who benefit most from the variety of resources they provide. 

Works Cited

Neal, Jim. “Fight for School Libraries: Student Success Depends on Them.” American Libraries, vol. 49, no. 3/4, Mar. 2018, p. 4. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=128247716&site=ehost-live&scope=site. 

Pascopella, Angela. "Today's media specialist: trading in their traditional stereotypes for computer know-how and research skills, media center specialists are working hard to steer students to success. (Library/Media Center)." District Administration, vol. 38, no. 1, Jan. 2002, p. 40+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A97116758/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=cdde5f08. Accessed 29 Mar. 2020.