Libraries go online to make kids read
City schools say digitising not only saves space but also helps their tech-savvy students access more books
MUMBAI: Fewer students now visit the school library to read, study or borrow books, say city schools. Students do not want to wait in queue for a heavilyborrowed book and feel accessing the school library on their computers or ipads, throughout the day, is a better idea.
Keeping up with changing times, an increasing number of city schools are digitising their libraries so that students can download books straight to their computers and read at their leisure.
One of the oldest schools in the city, Queen Mary School on Grant Road, introduced an e-library in June this year, for students of the primary and secondary sections. The school library’s books are accessible online, through the school computers.
“We decided to upgrade our facilities and move with the times,” explained Grace Mathias, the school’s principal.
At present, our students can access the online library only from the school computer and cannot log in from their homes, but the school is working to make that possible too.
“We realised that since our children are technology-savvy, we could start the online library to encourage them to read,” she added.
Apart from the books available in the school library, Queen Mary has also associated with the British Council Library, which offers a large collection of books on all subjects.
Most students are more attracted to the virtual library as it is a convenient option.
“Our online library is so popular that if a particular book is checked-out of the physical library, students promptly turn to the virtual one,” said Shabbi Luthra, director of research, development and technology, American School of Bombay.
Another advantage of the virtual libraries is that is has made school bags much lighter, as students do not have to carry extra books with them.
“Children do not have to carry heavy books that they borrowed as our virtual library is open all day,” said Chandrakanta Pathak, principal of HVB School, Marine Lines.
Schools have also put in place mechanisms to ensure that students can access and read ageappropriate books in the virtual library.
‘Students from different classes are given separate passwords so that they access material that is relevant to them,” Pathak said, adding that the virtual library is a blessing for city schools that are starved of space.
However, does this mean that the physical library has been phased out in schools? Not yet.
Most schools that have introduced an e-library have tried to maintain a balance between the regular library and the virtual one.
“We have divided our students into groups and they alternate between the two libraries according to the school’s timetable,’’ said Mathias.
Similarly, while the Gundecha Academy in Kandivli has a full-fledged digital library, they still maintain a large regular one.
“We do not want students to lose touch with the actual library experience of browsing books physically and sitting in the library to read. We continue to maintain our regular library along with the virtual one,” said Seema Buch, school principal.
At American School of Bombay the concept of a library as one physical space for students to find books and information resources has been disrupted says Heeru Bhojwani, the librarian of the elementary school.
The school has six Information Commons (icommons) or interactive spaces, instead of one physical library. Each floor has their icommons space, housing various resources. “This collaborative space supports and engages students in their learning journey,” said Bhojwani.