Why Online Library Resources Matter for Students
Did you know that college students love their libraries? This was among the key insights in a 2022 Library Journal Student Library Usage survey. Over 400 on-campus and online students answered questions about their library-related use.
Most described their library experiences in positive terms. The words used included helpful, engaging, and reliable. The majority say that they visited their libraries to access digital resources. Many also used library resources to conduct research for projects and assignments.
eBooks are the most popular library resource among college students. Textbooks and databases ranked second and third in popular use. Most students accessed electronic journals, too, but many also used print journals. The majority of students expressed satisfaction with the quality of electronic resources.
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Of course, this is only one study. However we can conclude that college students consider online libraries crucial. In the digital world, online libraries are a part of life already.
For this reason, you should consider online colleges with low-cost library resources. These online institutions offer library resources and services that support academic success. Since these are low-cost or free, there’s little to no added financial burden. With the rising cost of college tuition and fees, it’s a welcome relief.
Besides cost, effective access to affordable online library resources results in these benefits.
- 24/7 access to library resources means opportunities to study and research anytime.
- Flexible and convenient access via an Internet-connected computer means better time management. This is particularly useful for working professionals juggling work and family commitments.
- Opportunities to conduct extensive research due to a wide range of resources. Academic journals, citation generators, and advanced research tools are common.
- Enjoy support for different learning styles, such as visual or auditory. Podcasts, videos, and interactive tools are available.
- Promote academic independence and soft skills.
- Improve peer-to-peer and student-to-professor collaborations. Sharing of library resources is a common way.
Indeed, online colleges with low-cost library resources provide a great service to students. But it’s still up to you, the student, to take full advantage of these resources. Use them, learn from them, and enrich your college experience.
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- Affordable Textbooks at Online Colleges: How Students Save Money
What Are Online Library Resources at Colleges?
Here’s another trivia: 93% of U.S. colleges and universities have libraries (2020-2021). There were more electronic transactions (1,060,674) than physical transactions (13,480). Books still significantly outnumber media material and electronic databases.
However, online library resources are increasing in quantity and quality, too. Many colleges and universities have also created digital libraries. These are the digitized versions of collections of documents available in electronic formats. These documents include books, academic papers, audio and video files, and more. Depending on their format, these can be available on the Internet, HTML, PDF, and hard disk.
And then there are Internet-based digital libraries. If you want more information beyond what your library can offer, check them out. Project Gutenberg, World Digital Library, and Universal Digital Library are notable examples.
Digital libraries in online colleges have two main features, too. First, these remove physical barriers, thanks to remote access. With online college library access, you only need an Internet-connected device. No need for physical visits to the library.
Second, these can be updated as needed, even on a daily basis. You can then get the latest updates or information about topics you’re interested in.
Here are the most common online library resources that you can find at online colleges.
- eBooks are the digitized version of their printed counterparts. These usually have extra features like highlighting, bookmarking, and search tools. Textbooks and reference books are usually available in ebook format, too.
- Academic journals contain peer reviews, studies, and research articles about specialized topics in diverse disciplines.
- Multimedia resources include podcasts, video lectures, audio recordings, and documentaries for diverse learning styles.
- Citation and research tools are the best digital library tools for online students due to their efficiency. Check out Zotero, Mendeley, and Google Scholar.
- Digitized encyclopedias are the best free and cheap library resources for online education. Oxford Reference and Britannica Online are excellent examples.
- Research databases where academic papers, scientific journals, and scholarly articles are available. ProQuest, JSTOR, and PubMed are popular.
- Data and statistical databases complement low-cost digital textbooks and research databases. Students find surveys, datasets, and statistics useful for research and analysis.
- Digital archives are useful for students seeking primary sources.
- Open Educational Resources (OERs) are free learning materials. Students and professors can use and change their content for free, too.
These online library resources reduce your college costs, too. You can skip the high prices of physical textbooks, a costly burden for college students.
Consider the numbers according to the Education Data Initiative. The average college student spends $339 to $600 for books and supplies in an academic year. Many students worked extra hours or skipped meals to buy books. Buying books becomes too expensive for many students, too, so they skip them.
Some ebooks cost 31.9% less than their physical counterparts. Plus, you can use your computer for most ebooks anyway. There’s often no need to buy another dedicated device for ebooks.
Benefits of Affordable Online Library Resources for Online Students
Besides the cost savings, here are more online college library benefits you can look forward to.
Time savings
Time is gold if you’re an online student juggling work and personal responsibilities. Online libraries offer time savings because you don’t have to travel. All information is available at the click of a mouse, anytime, anywhere.
Yet another time savings is in the efficient use of search tools. Instead of looking for books up and down aisles, use the search tools instead. What takes, say, 15 minutes can take 15 seconds.
Convenient access
Wherever you may be, you have easy and convenient access to online library resources. Whatever information you need, it’s available in the palm of your hand. Your Internet-connected computer is your all-in-one tool.
Easier and faster information retrieval
Digital libraries usually have advanced search features, such as truncation and proximity operators. These facilitate easier and faster information retrieval, including data collection. You can conduct sophisticated searches and queries for diverse topics.
Don’t worry if you’re a newbie user of digital libraries, either. Intuitive search engine technologies make it easy for newbies. Don’t worry about digital libraries being too large and, thus, unwieldy. The larger the digital library, the more sophisticated its search and retrieval functions.
Updated content
What’s the latest and newest? If you ask it during your studies and research, you will find online library resources up to the task. Digital libraries feature regular updates to their content and offer the latest editions. These are possible because of their digital format.
Getting the latest and newest is also a must if you’re seeking quality research materials.
Improved collaboration and sharing of resources
Digital libraries usually have communication features, such as chats and emails. There’s no need for face-to-face interactions either. You can improve the exchange of ideas and sharing of resources through these features. The better your collaboration with peers, the better your academic performance, too.
Increased quantity and quality of choices
Since digital libraries use cloud storage and the Internet, there’s less space limitation. Students then have more choices in library resources than in brick-and-mortar libraries.
Top Online Colleges Offering Low-Cost Library Resources
Arizona State University Online
The ASU Library allows easy access to online students, too. There’s a wide variety of digital resources, from ebooks and databases to course materials. Professors also provide free access to their online course materials. Online students can consult with librarians and get free New York Times and Wall Street Journal digital subscriptions.
University of Maryland Global Campus
The UMGC Library offers free access to its vast collection of resources, including ebooks and databases. Students can use the OneSearch, citation and writing, and subject and course guides, too.
Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU’s Shapiro Library features an extensive collection of ebooks, databases, and journals, among others. Students have free, 24/7 access to these resources.
Liberty University
LU’s Jerry Falwell Library provides a wide range of virtual library resources. Free access to ebooks, academic journals, and research databases decreases college costs.
Colorado State University Global
The CSU Global Online Library offers free access to online students to its extensive resources. Even the for-a-fee resources feature low fees. There’s also a writing center for students.
University of Central Florida
The UCF Libraries have an online component that offers free access to its digital resources. Research tools and guides are available, along with ebooks, among others.
Purdue University Global
The Purdue Global Library has an extensive collection of digital resources offered for free. Academic journals, ebooks, and databases abound.
California State University Fullerton
CSUF’s Pollak Library welcomes online students to access its free academic resources. Most are offered in digital format, such as ebooks, databases, and scholarly articles.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UIUC’s University Library features extensive digital collections offered for free. Many compulsory course materials are also available for free in digital format.
Penn State World Campus
Online students have free access to among the world’s most extensive library collections. Students can also request library materials and assistance from librarians.
How to Access and Utilize Online Library Resources
Enjoying the benefits of low-cost online library resources is well and good. But you must first know how to access online college libraries.
- Go to your online college’s library portal or page. If necessary, create your student account for log-ins. Use it every time you want to use the digital resources.
- Attend library workshops. You will learn about the library’s collections, its search features, and other useful information. Being chatty with the librarian doesn’t hurt either.
- Search for free and affordable ebooks and journals for students. You will be surprised at the available resources if you look hard enough. OERs and open-access journals are a must for an online student.
- Take full advantage of the master database search function. Your research time will be shorter. Advanced search features, Boolean operators, and filters make for faster information retrieval.
- Use to their fullest the digital tools. Plagiarism checkers, writing assistance, citation generators, and research guides are usually available.
- Ask your librarian for information about free academic research resources online. With new resources popping up, you may not be aware of them. Your librarian is an excellent source of information about them. Plus, you may be able to download these resources.
- Create a system for your digital resources. You can create files and library accounts and use reference managers.
Conclusion: Maximize Your Learning with Affordable Resources
When your online college offers low-cost library resources, you must take full advantage. You must use ebooks, multimedia content, and databases for your academic success. Be sure to use the advanced search tools and ask the librarian for assistance, too. You will find that, indeed, online library resources will enrich your college experience.