The role of the library in student and teacher education

Until now, students accessed information in the physical space of the educational institution, but with the development of information and communication technology, students no longer have to be in the physical space of the institution itself, but can access information, knowledge and the educational process virtually, from anywhere and at any time. This especially applies to students who are getting additional education or professional development, such as doctoral students or students of part-time studies.

On the other hand, there is also a need for full-time students to access information and educational content outside of lectures and exercises. The realization of these requirements requires good cooperation between librarians, teachers and IT staff, which is also possible by creating e-learning centers that will help to familiarize themselves with, raise awareness of and use all the possibilities offered by the electronic educational environment (both for hybrid learning and distance learning).

The goals of higher education libraries represent support for the achievement of the university's strategy, but also for the creation of information literate individuals ready for lifelong learning and education.

In addition to managing the quantity and variety of information, librarians must also help learners understand the breadth and depth of what is available. Information literacy has evolved to include media and digital literacy, awareness of new forms and tools for accessing digital information. Information literacy is defined as the foundation for learning in an environment where people use information as part of their formal learning process. Once the result of a good education was an understanding of a particular body of knowledge or discipline, today it is the skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis that are necessary for understanding and navigating today’s resource-rich world.

The adoption and implementation of electronic environments in education has led to a more active role for librarians in supporting staff and students to fully exploit the opportunities and benefits of e-learning. Compared to the traditional library model, where staff tasks are largely focused on managing materials, the new library model requires more time and staff to interact with the educational environment itself. Library staff are active participants in this new environment, providing support to users, teaching information literacy skills, educating and training librarians themselves, and organizing and managing educational content. This is reflected in a range of different services, including physical courses and online webinars, assisting with teaching and using information resources, and organizing and managing educational materials.

The following article offers a deeper insight into the role of higher education libraries in the context of quality assurance and reaccreditation of higher education institutions, where the author analyzes the standards, challenges and adaptations that libraries implement in the digital environment. The text is valuable because it shows how libraries are transforming from passive custodians of materials to active partners in the educational process, which is crucial for understanding contemporary e-learning practices.

We recommend reading more about this topic in Pikić (2017).