Parents' views on the operation of the lending library in kindergarten through the e-class platform

Abstract

The cultivation of students' love of reading book (philanagnosia) in modern times is a key issue, which concerns the educational as well as their wider family environment. The formation of reading habits within the school context among pre-school students is also achieved through the operation of the lending library, both print and digital. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent implementation of strict health protocols, the lending library in pre-school education operated digitally through online platforms only in cases where it was not suspended. The purpose of this study was to investigate the parents views of pre-school students in Attica region on the operation of the lending library in a technology-supported environment (eclass platform) during the school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. In order to investigate the issue, a qualitative research was conducted with nine semi-structured interviews, which showed that the operation of a digital lending library enhanced the cultivation of reading, emergent literacy skills and digital skills, actively involving the parents in the educational process. Nevertheless, it was noted the inability of families to support their children's participation in digital environments in a variety of ways, while reinforcing educational inequalities. In conclusion, a combination of conventional and digital lending library in preschool education is recommended, in order to ensure the "magic" that the printed book provides to preschool children.