Oct 01, 2020 07:00:00

What are the five ways school libraries contribute to student happiness?

According to

a survey by the National Institutes of Health, one in five young people worldwide may be experiencing mental health issues. In particular, the global pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020 has significantly changed lifestyles, exacerbating mental health issues among students. In this context, Margaret Christine Melga, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Edith Cowan University , explains five roles that school libraries play in promoting student well-being .

A place to get away from it all: 5 ways school libraries support student well-being
https://theconversation.com/a-place-to-get-away-from-it-all-5-ways-school-libraries-support-student-well-being-145180

◆1: Provide a safe place
These days, school libraries are expected to serve a variety of purposes, including as meeting spaces and storage areas for sports equipment. Melga says school libraries can be used not just as multipurpose spaces, but also as 'refuges for distressed students.'

Creating a positive, safe, and supportive school environment helps meet students' academic, emotional, and social needs. 'For students who are being bullied or struggling with the school environment, the school library can be a great place to go,' Melga said.

◆2: Improve health literacy skills
Health literacy is the ability to appropriately search for, evaluate, and effectively use health information. However, a 2017

survey found that students were good at searching for information online, but poor at assessing the reliability of the information they found. With so many false rumors circulating online, especially about COVID-19, Melga argues that improving health literacy for students is essential.

School librarians and library staff are information experts, and part of their job is to help faculty, staff, and students process information. 'School libraries can help students build health literacy skills and evaluate online health information,' Melga said.

◆3: Providing resources for well-being
School libraries are facilities that provide resources for students with various concerns to understand what is bothering them and how to get help. Librarians work with school teachers and counselors to collect, organize, and share resources such as books and magazines to ensure that students have access to the latest, high-quality information. This ensures that students can access information that will improve their well-being in the library.

Research has also shown that school libraries improve mental health literacy not only among students but also in the surrounding community.

◆4: Support reading habits
There is a link between literacy and well-being in children, with reading being important for achieving higher levels of psychological well-being, and a 2019 study found that visiting libraries increases students' motivation to read.

However, students are busy with classes, club activities, and other curriculums, so even if their school has a good library, they may not visit it regularly. Mr. Melga emphasized that 'schools need to ensure that students have access to libraries.'

◆5: Encourage mental health through reading
In recent years, it has been pointed out that reading experiences improve students' mental health, and '

bibliotherapy ' is being considered, which aims to solve students' mental problems by reading books and engaging with stories. The advantage of librarians, who have a wealth of knowledge about books, is that they can provide books that address students' problems.

'School libraries are expensive to maintain and staff, which is why libraries are often the target of budget cuts in schools,' Melga said. 'If school libraries don't have the staff and resources they need, they may not be able to support student well-being. We need to better understand how school libraries and staff contribute to student well-being so we can make the most of these valuable resources.'