Libraries as learning partners
Open education makes a lot of material freely available, but finding it, judging it and being able to use it are separate problems. Libraries have long worked on exactly these problems. This article describes the services libraries commonly offer to people who are learning, whether they are enrolled in a course or studying on their own. Services differ between libraries, so the list below is a guide to what is worth asking about, not a promise that every library offers everything.
Help finding sources
Search engines return huge numbers of results, and quality varies. Library staff are trained to help people turn a vague topic into a workable search, and to pick sensible places to look. A learner who asks for help might be shown how to:
- narrow a topic so it is neither too broad nor too thin
- choose search terms and try alternatives when the first ones fail
- tell the difference between a textbook, a journal article and a website
- find freely available alternatives when a particular book is expensive
Libraries often keep lists of openly licensed materials in their subject guides and can point to collections that are free to use. They can also show a learner how to read a reference, track down the book or article it cites and note down the details needed for citations.
For someone doing independent study, this kind of guidance can save a lot of time. A short conversation at a help desk, or an online chat with library staff where offered, is often enough to get moving.
Study space
A surprising barrier to learning is simply having nowhere suitable to do it. Home may be crowded, noisy or without a desk. Libraries often provide quiet areas, group tables, and sometimes bookable rooms for people working on projects together. For learners taking online courses, a library can be a place where it is easier to concentrate and to join a video session without household interruptions.
Opening hours and rules differ, and some spaces are reserved for members of a particular institution, so it is worth checking in advance. Many public libraries are open to anyone in the local area; university libraries are sometimes open to visitors for reading, though borrowing may be limited.
A comfortable, predictable place can also support routine. Some learners find that a regular session at the library makes it easier to stick to a plan, an idea related to the habits discussed in our piece on a study routine.
Device and connectivity loans
Many libraries lend equipment, and some lend more than books. Depending on the library, this may include laptops, tablets, headphones, chargers, calculators or portable internet hotspots. Libraries also usually provide computers and wireless internet on site, along with printing and scanning, often for a small fee.
This matters for open education because free online materials are of limited use without a device and a connection. A library loan scheme does not solve the whole digital divide, but it can fill gaps for a term, a project or an exam period. Loan periods, deposits and eligibility rules are set by each library, so a learner should ask for the current terms rather than assume.
When using shared computers or public networks, it is sensible to log out of accounts and avoid entering sensitive information. General habits for staying safe are covered in our piece on public wi-fi.
Training and skills
Libraries also teach. Workshops and drop-in sessions might cover using a database, setting up an email account, writing a CV, using a word processor or a spreadsheet, or learning how a learning platform works. Some run informal classes or conversation groups in other languages.
A common theme is information literacy: learning to ask where information comes from, who produced it and whether it can be trusted. Library staff are often well placed to teach this because they work with sources every day. Basic digital skills teaching is valuable too, as many learners discover they can access material but struggle with the software needed to use it.
Training can be especially helpful for adults returning to study after a long gap, who may feel unsure about technology and unwilling to ask in a classroom.
How libraries support open materials specifically
Beyond general help, libraries can take an active part in open education:
- listing open textbooks and open courses in catalogs and subject guides
- explaining what a Creative Commons license permits, so people know how they may reuse a resource
- hosting or helping to maintain a local collection of openly licensed materials
- supporting teachers who want to adopt or create open resources, which is covered in more depth for university libraries elsewhere on this site
Because libraries are trusted community spaces, they can also act as a bridge between formal education and informal learners who might not otherwise know where to begin.
Limits to keep in mind
Libraries have constraints. Budgets are limited, staff numbers vary, and local services have been reduced in some places. Not every library has specialist staff for every subject, and a librarian is not a tutor who can mark work or teach the course content. Collections may not include material in a learner’s own language or at the right level. Some services depend on membership or residence.
For these reasons it helps to be specific when asking. Saying “I am studying introductory statistics online and need a free textbook and somewhere quiet on Saturdays” gives staff something concrete to work with. Where a service is not available, they can often suggest an alternative or refer you to another provider.
Summary of what to ask about
A short checklist for a first visit:
- Is there someone who can help me find sources for my topic?
- Are there quiet or group study areas, and can I book them?
- Do you lend laptops, tablets or hotspots, and on what terms?
- Do you run workshops on digital skills or research?
- Do you have a list of free or open materials in my subject?
Libraries are not the only route into open learning, but they are one of the few places where help, space, equipment and training come together, usually at little or no cost.