Libraries offer amazing resources which aid students in studying and discovering insurmountable amounts of knowledge. One of the best parts? — They’re free! While most of us enjoy studying at the library, this isn’t something we can do readily amidst the pandemic. Nonetheless, libraries still have digital forums that can and should be explored. Here are three library-related resources you should take advantage of as a student:
Written by Jireh Estrada
Accessibility On The Go
Our world has gone through many technological advances in the last decade, and the negative result of it is that people's attention spans have decreased. Listening to audiobooks may be especially valuable to those with shorter attention-spans. Audiobooks are a great learning resource that ensures that the everyday busy individual can still interact with their daily dose of knowledge on the go.
In addition e-books are also accessible for on-the-go lifestyles! Both audiobooks and e-books are usually accessible offline on a multitude of devices, making them useful and prevents the worries of needing to carry an extra book. Also, e-books offer an active learning experience where students can watch videos, look at infographics and diagrams, and read text while having it narrated to them. Sometimes, e-books even offer short quizzes within them to help with active recall. So in a nutshell, using audiobooks or e-books can really help enhance your learning experience and help you achieve your academic goals!
No Physical Boundaries
Digital libraries allow for a global experience. Anyone can access a digital library anywhere in the world as long as an Internet connection is available. This means that there are no physical boundaries, and that the playing-field of gaining knowledge has just become easier, and vaster.
Do you remember a time when you may have visited a shop that was already closed for the day? It sucks doesn’t it? Well, in this case, that's not an issue either — there are no vacations or holidays that impede online libraries from functioning, excluding periodical maintenance which are also usually addressed ahead of time.
This removal of physical barriers is beneficial because it allows for multi-platform access to multiple users. Back in the day, books had to be checked-in and -out and given to a person for a specific time period, until the next person could get their hands on a physical copy. This waitlist, depending on the popularity or demand of the book, could have lasted from weeks to even months of waiting. In today’s fast-paced world, hardly anyone likes or can afford such wait-times just to start working on their tasks at hand. Having the ability to access any book you need seamlessly improves the library check-out experience greatly; multiple users can use soft-copies of a book versus a couple hard-copies which can be used by only a few people at once.
New Skills & New Horizons
When you think of libraries, what's the first thing you think of? Most will probably say studying or school — something quite standard and unoriginal. But what if you found out that many libraries offer online workshops and classes that could increase your skillset whilst allowing you to explore various literature you may have never been exposed to before?
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries ran in-person programs that taught people of various ages skillsets important for various aspects of life, and some were even accredited through official certifications. Whether or not you're interested in the health sciences, business, or anything really, there are programs designed to help you achieve the skills you need to get to your dream career and even hobbies! Students should take advantage of libraries, especially since this pandemic has paved way for ample of online opportunities.
Below are some links to some helpful library databases where you can sign-up to learn something new:
Use the new online-normal to your advantage. As students, it is one of our duties as responsible citizens to educate ourselves on what’s out there. Library websites are one of many types of resource pools available on the Internet. Reach out, join forums, download free resources, find out what’s happening in your virtual community, and strive to learn what you need and want to learn!
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