Online Libraries - A Renewed Strategies to Fight Low Literacy

  Online libraries are beyond any shadow of a doubt, tremendous opportunities for all Internet surfers, who are still addicted to reading books, but they no longer have the time to go to the library, or buying books is not part of their budget. Therefore, they can take advantage of online resources, that are usually stored and organized as eBook files. The e-format we can access in online libraries was obtained after the conversion of classic books into pdf files. It is worth pointing out that online libraries fall in two different categories according to whether the service is for free or not. Thus, an account to a payable service provides a larger offer, and, probably high quality formats. As for free accounts, such options are basically inferior to a payable service, and the differences are noticeable at face value.

The very first drawback is related to the the database because free services provide a limited number of items. Regardless of the basic feature, online libraries are similarly organized, meaning that, the home page comprises the basic categories hosting the entire database, facts about the serve (how it works), log in/ log out options, subscription criteria. In essence, online libraries have a very friendly interface, usually based upon a library management software. Nevertheless, the online platform has been adjusted for very specific purposes and are pretty different from the application used in traditional libraries, simply because this service means more than a library online catalogue.

We need to emphasize the fact that, a new line of online libraries are available today as part of the national plan developed in order to fight low literacy and illiteracy. A brand new service committed to educational progress via online means is a website developed by the authorities, also branded The World Digital Library, and launched in April, 2010. This project is also envisaged as an international service due to the fact that visitors can access the database resources in various languages (French, Russian, Spanish, and many more). The main goal exceeds the standards of similar cultural projects as The World Digital Library aims for strong cultural connections between world's nations. Another online library sharing a similar approach is a website where you can find the work of famous authors in English literature, and if you take a closer look at the Author Index, you will see that the books are quite impressive.

Contrary to popular opinion, a career in library science of training is not, as it was considered, the province of those older females who have no prospects, of the lonely bookish man. These are for nearly anyone who enjoys reading, helping others to learn and grow and who likes the challenge of meeting new people and new situations on an hourly basis.

Library science and education is a challenging field with a great deal to learn to provide for a career there. In the United States, the American Library Association and the Organization for the Advancement of Library Employees advocates the improvement of salaries and conditions for nearly all library workers https://library.one/. This means that at times they are not paid what their education and work efforts are worth strictly speaking.

The average salary for a librarian in 2006 was about $51,000 with salary ranges from $22,000 to $250,000 at the upper level. Educational requirements for librarians are about the same as for a teacher or instructor with some minimal differences dependent upon which area of library science or which type of librarian you wish to become.

For a Teacher-Librarian the mandatory requirements for an entry level position in this field will be:

1. That you obtain a bachelors degree from any accredited institution of higher learning

2. Hold a masters degree in library science, educational media or school library media

3. Have a provisional or professional teaching license

4. Have completed a one year teaching experience or internship in the classroom

5. Pass the library content area test.

To become a school librarian the recommended educational values are different, somewhat less stringent than for those of a Teacher Librarian. These will include:

1. Get your bachelors degree from a university or college.

2. Hold a provisional teaching license of a professional teaching license

3. May or may not have classroom teaching experience

For the School Librarian licensure there are some other methods to achieve this which may be helpful for those who are not in a position to accomplish the first set of criterion.

Those methods will include:

A. Complete all the requirements necessary to get your provisional or professional teaching license through an approved ATPP (Alternative Teaching Preparation Program) or a Teacher in Residence program

B. Complete thirty hours or more of graduate level library science programs.

C. Complete 24 or more hours of graduate level library science programs for an added endorsement

D. Pass the library content test