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Gholamreza Fadaei,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (12-2020)
Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highly affected the people anywhere in the world. Iran has also been highly affected by this disease. We do not know if it is either a man-made or natural disease, which is beyond the scope of this paper. In any case, each disaster has two sides and brings both limitations and opportunities, and we must try our best to change the limitations into opportunities. In fact, living in difficult situations makes people strong and resistant and forces them to find suitable solutions.
One of the opportunities COVID-19 brought for us is that it proposed another way of living: some people were ready for it, some accepted reluctantly and some must be compelled to prepare for it. 
COVID-19 taught us that we can have our cultural activities in less expensive way, provided that the electronic infrastructure is ready, and the men in charge are well elected and responsible; It taught us that we must not waste our educational courses with unnecessary works; it proposed a competitor state of educational teaching seriously. It also showed us if someone does not try his/her best, his/her job would be omitted very soon in the era of calamity.
With the worldwide spread of COVID-19 in Iran as well as in other countries, the IRIB TV provided teaching programs and Iranian school students began using it. If virtual services are provided, libraries can easily serve people in this situation. Now, the Iranian “Social Network of Students” (in Persian, acronymically abbreviated to “SHAD”) and another program called the “TV School of Iran” are two successful programs which are aimed to continue their services after the eradication of COVID-19 as well.
In these days, libraries should also become more active, and try their best to answer the educational, cultural and social needs of people. If libraries want to compete with others in cultural and sociological activities, and if librarians do not want to be only knowledge keepers, as Millville Dewey had mentioned, they have to find new ways in competition. They have to be more active and change their way of service to people.
It seems that Iran Public Libraries Foundation has to supplement the existing educational and cultural services with establishing school digital libraries. Some recommendations are as follows:
  1. Book publishing should be hybrid (it should include both print and electronic publishing);
  2. Virtual book fairs in attractive forms must be held;
  3. All people should be widely informed that their educational needs are met or can be met at low costs and librarians are be accessible anytime and anywhere as soon as possible.

Ameneh Rahjou, Alireza Noruzi, Mohammadreza Keramaty, Keyvan Salehi,
Volume 30, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract

Purpose: School libraries, as key centers in the learning process, face significant weaknesses in engaging and involving students. Consequently, many students distance from libraries, leading to a weak learning process and a decline in the quality of virtual education. The purpose of this research is to determine the role of school libraries in fostering student engagement within the context of virtual education.
Method: The approach of the current research is qualitative and its method is meta-synthesis. The research population consists of 95 articles about the role of school libraries in student engagement in the process of virtual education, which were published in reputable scientific journals between 2000 and 2023. The research sample includes 50 articles that were purposefully collected and selected based on thematic analysis. Data were collected from the qualitative analysis of the studied articles.
Findings: Data analysis identified six key roles for school libraries in enhancing student engagement: accessibility of content and tools, information consultation and reference services, teaching information and media literacy, professional development for teachers, teacher collaboration and communication, and integration of new technologies. These roles are associated with educational strategies that can foster student engagement. This study found that school librarians collaborate with classroom teachers to plan student homeworks and conduct collaborative teaching and assessment. Previous research has also highlighted the importance of cooperation between school librarians and teachers. Librarians can share their expertise in emerging technologies with teachers and, through their teaching partnerships, guide educators towards tools and platforms that can be effectively integrated into lessons. Moreover, effective professional development can empower teachers to become technology leaders. Regarding the tools, knowledge and support necessary for teachers in virtual education, educators can enhance their ability to apply skills and knowledge in emerging and advanced technologies. These technologies enable them to locate, evaluate and ethically use information. To strengthen the study, specific examples relevant to educational goals should be provided. On the one hand, the present study showed that content/technology, student and teacher are the three main elements of virtual education. On the other hand, engagement is the main goal of education in the 21st century. Educational engagement is the concept of active participation of students in the education process and an important factor in educational progress, which is associated with the emotional components of passion, motivation and energy. In other words, educational engagement is the quality of effort that students spend on purposeful educational activities that lead to improved learning achievement. Also, in all educational courses, especially in the virtual education process, interaction can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the educational process and, as a result, engage students. The school library plays an important role in creating a bridge between students and teachers and content, as well as engaging students. A school library can create a communication bridge through information literacy education. Student relationships with the library are enriched through multimedia assignments that enhance student learning. Technology creates more opportunities to deepen student engagement with the library through more and more meaningful contacts with librarians. In all the roles played by the school library, including teacher, consultant, information specialist, and leadership, the basic role of the school library is the relationship builder. Therefore, school library efforts should be focused on helping to create a supportive culture that fosters student success and learning, because active and engaging libraries play a vital role in education.
Originality/value: This research has comprehensively examined the role of school libraries in fostering student engagement within the context of virtual education. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable resource for administrators, teachers and librarians seeking to understand the significance and function of school libraries in the field of virtual learning. This research offers a novel contribution by comprehensively examining the multifaceted role of school libraries in fostering student engagement within the virtual education landscape. By employing a qualitative meta-synthesis approach and analyzing a substantial dataset of articles, the study identifies six key functions of school libraries in promoting student engagement, expanding upon previous research. Moreover, the research underscores the critical importance of school librarians as collaborative partners with teachers in creating the engaging and effective virtual learning environments. This study fills a knowledge gap by providing a deep understanding of the strategies and practices implemented to enhance student engagement through school library services, ultimately leading to improved educational outcomes. Given the high cost of information resources, inadequate infrastructure and limited school budgets, it is recommended that non-governmental organizations provide support to strengthen and develop school libraries.


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