THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES IN TEACHING

Abstract

Virtual libraries are organized collections of digital information. They are collections organized for a specific community of users and designed to support the information needs of that community. Digital libraries can offer resources from many sources and in many formats, including audio and video. The items in these virtual collections do not have to reside on the same server, but they share a common interface to help the user access the collection. Virtual libraries focus on organization and access rather than physical collections.

School libraries can exist in two different spaces, physical space and virtual space. Each space enables different learning activities and serves different purposes for learning. Many libraries exist in only one space, while others maintain a hybrid space that is both physical and virtual space to recognize the different information uses and learning activities that can occur in each environment. All libraries, whether virtual or physical, create environments for learning. This article explored the benefits of virtual libraries for student learning, the types of learning that can be supported in virtual library environments, the importance of design to accommodate different types of learning, and concerns raised by virtual libraries.