The supporting roles of academic librarians in virtual education

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have greatly affected our professional and personal lives in a short time. One of the areas most affected by these technologies is education. The role of ICTs in learning is significant, and today, we can see virtual learning courses in many academic fields. On the other hand, one of the most important functions of academic libraries is supporting the educational programs. With the advances in ICTs, the structure, space, and services provided by academic libraries also changed and we have witnessed a great increase in electronic resources and services in libraries. Due to these changes, libraries managed to continue their support role even in virtual education programs. Since joining libraries, ICTs and education together can have significant effects on virtual learning, this study first investigates the marketing of library services and the role of academic libraries in virtual education programs, and later discusses various library services that can be helpful in virtual learning programs such as preparation and access to information sources, digital reference services, and teaching of information literacy. Finally, the most important skills for librarians in the virtual education environment are investigated.