The Role of Digital Libraries in Developing Students' Reading Comprehension Skills:

Abstract

The present study aims to determine whether English as foreign language (EFL) teachers are aware of the role of digital libraries in developing students’ reading comprehension skills, and to explore their perspectives regarding the use of these resources in reading instruction. With the growing integration of digital technologies in education, digital libraries have become essential platforms offer diverse and accessible reading materials. However, many students still face difficulties in reading comprehension despite the availability of such tools. This underscores the necessity of examining the actual impact of need to assess their actual impact of digital libraries as perceived by teachers. Accordingly, two hypotheses were proposed: EFL teachers are aware of the role of digital libraries in developing students’ reading comprehension skills, and EFL teachers have positive attitude towards the use of digital libraries in reading instruction. To test these hypotheses, data were collected through a teachers’ questionnaire. The study was conducted with 36 teachers from the department of letters and English language at the University of 8 Mai 1945. Guelma, during the academic year 2024-2025. The findings revealed that most teachers are aware of the role of digital libraries and hold generally positive attitude towards their use in developing students’ reading comprehension. They highlighted benefits such as flexibility, accessibility, and interactivity. However, some limitations such as poor internet access, lack of training, and resource costs were also noted. Based on the results, both hypotheses were confirmed. The study concludes by recommending better integration of digital libraries in reading programs, training for both teachers and students, and improved access to digital infrastructure.