Are the School Libraries Still Important?

The information age or the digital era has come with and introduced many interesting concepts, attention-grabbing ideas and new ways of life. Education  before the digital age was ‘manual’- everything done on paper and to a larger extent activity oriented. However with the information age, things have changed. The amount of information found on the online community is immense. In fact in this era, it is almost possible to find any kind of information online. The online community has become schools for many too. The problem comes when the information retrieved online is not genuine, or rather not verifiable. Not all information on the internet is relevant.

Online libraries have also been introduced. Through these, one is in a position to comfortably seek information, carry out research or even read for an examination. Online libraries are convenient; you don’t have to be compelled to that long walk or drive to the library. In fact you can read from your workplace, your home or anywhere else. They are also user friendly as one is able to comfortably read and get information without getting a computer lesson class to learn how to use the online library. There is always a tutorial to guide users on how to search information and obtain decipherable materials. The online libraries are also accessible at any time; all days, daytime or at night.

As much as online libraries may seem convenient, easy-to-use and available at all time, it is vital to remember that the school libraries are very imperative to have in a school. These are a number of reasons why school libraries are still relevant;

·         Not all information on the internet is relevant. Finding and verifying the information is not as straightforward as finding information in the school libraries that stocks useful books and publications.

·         The information on the internet is just to compliment the information in the books but cannot replace the vast knowledge available in books.

·         Libraries improve information quality. Research shows that students who read in the library get relevant and needed information compared to online sources used by others. The performance of such students who study in school libraries is better compared to online library readers.

·         Books and journals in the library are corrected cited. Library collections employ a well-formulated Citation System which ensures consistency and relevance of information in the library sources.

·         Libraries are a good source of historical news. They are useful in news archives too. As much as the internet may store such information, the libraries are more close to the need for this.

·         Libraries are a perfect place to preserve the culture of the society. Books and publications on a society are best kept in libraries for the future generations.  

·         Libraries promote and reflect on the communities’ values hence preserves them.