Utility of School Library for English Learning

    

 School libraries are the backbone of the education system and play a vital role in enhancing the learning experience, particularly in language development. They serve as an intellectual hub where students, teachers, and the community can expand their knowledge, strengthen their imagination, and develop their English language skills. A well-resourced library improves the quality of education by providing access to diverse reading materials that support language learning. It also fosters a love for reading, critical thinking, and creativity, all of which are essential for building strong character and personal identity.

Before delving deeper, it's essential to understand what a library truly is. A library is a curated collection of books and various informational resources, made accessible for reading, study, or reference purposes. The term "library" originates from the Latin word liber, meaning "book." However, libraries have always been more than just repositories for books. Modern libraries house diverse materials, including manuscripts, newspapers, magazines, art reproductions, films, audio and video recordings, maps, photographs, CD-ROMs, software, and online databases. Beyond their physical collections, today’s libraries also offer digital access, connecting users to information from remote locations via telecommunications and the internet.

Having penned what Library is, we now proceed to consider the way in which its study may be most profitably pursued. In order to fully comprehend any English Literature or Language Learning, and to place it in its true position among its sphere of Knowledge , not only must the given text be studied with due care, but we must pay regard to its outward "environment" and to the circumstances of the times in which the topic lived. We better learn trees instead of the fruits only. Unless the students have not asked themselves a certain number of questions and answered them satisfactorily the pupils cannot be sure of thoroughly understanding the learning model. Such Questions and Answers are fully entertained by Library.

 Libraries at the high school level (Class V to Class XII) differ in several ways from those serving the lower grades. Because classes at the high school level require students to conduct more research, high school libraries usually have larger and more advanced collections than do libraries in the lower grades. The best-equipped high school libraries feature computer labs, professional reference resources for teachers, conference and group study areas, and classrooms within the library. Most high school libraries also include separate areas devoted to college or vocational preparation. These areas typically contain information on individual schools, examples of schools applications, vocational aptitude tests, and other materials designed to provide guidance for completing high school students. Acknowledging thus the importance of school libraries, schools have to take an initiative to bring the school library in its proper functions.

First of all it has to be evaluated in terms of the trends, patterns and services.  And finally we can discuss about the implementation these following guidelines for betterment of its functionality in the fields of English Literature or Language Learning:  

1. It is essential to include a diverse range of literary books for varied reading experiences, as relying solely on textbooks is insufficient. The library’s catalogue should be expanded and regularly updated to reflect new acquisitions. Modern libraries often publish book catalogs, and schools should collect these for enhanced utility. Teachers have a dual purpose: first, to equip capable students with accurate information and assist them in developing a personal understanding of the texts they read; and second, to engage and somewhat satisfy "general readers" who may have limited or no prior knowledge of literature.
2. The school could also consider keeping the library open weekly, even during vacations. Collaboration between parents, teachers, and the librarian could be established, where books are supplied to parents, allowing them to provide feedback and fostering a more study-oriented environment. A nominal fee may be charged for this service, and the participation of guardians from diverse social backgrounds would further strengthen the school library’s influence.
3. If internet access or digital library resources are unavailable, students can still engage with literary content through alternative media like television and radio. They should explore interesting literary topics that can be incorporated into their studies.
4. Additionally, a "monitorial system" of study, often known as the sardar poro method, could be introduced in the library as well. Senior students could recommend books to their juniors and occasionally guide them as mentors. A library book rating system could also be implemented to gauge the preferences and reading habits of young readers, helping to better understand and cater to their literary interests.

To provide quality education at schools library is a great support to attract children towards school and literature studies. The rural schools though lack some facilities; teachers’ utmost zeal and beloved pupil’s limitless pursuit will bring down the wall of hurdles, I hope. 

Ardhendu De