Providing Leadership for Change in Distance Learning

Abstract

Change in distance learning is occurring at a rapid pace. As new technologies appear, institutions of higher education incorporate them into their course delivery options. Library services must also change to meet new user needs. This article examines the meanings of change and leadership within a distance-learning setting. After describing several strategies used by the author to lead change, the process is outlined in a checklist, with notes to especially relevant current literature. The checklist is intended to help others work through a similar process.     

Improving Library Services for Distance Learners: A Literature Review

Academic libraries offer many services to distance learning students. The sources of literature reviewed here offer information that shows relevant similarities and differences between library services offered to traditional students and distance learning students. Likewise, the associated findings from the literature offer insight that is applicable for a project to modify and improve library services for distance learners in higher education.     

Collaboration: The Key to Unlocking the Dilemma of Distance Reference Services

SUMMARY

Distant education offerings are growing at a phenomenal rate for academic institutions, creating new groups of library users that are remote from the main campus with unique library and research needs. Recent studies examining the needs of this unique and growing population note that reference and research assistance are key services needed. Many institutions have appointed or hired distance education librarians to help provide services to distant learners. They are often, however, one-person operations that function more as coordinators rather than full-service providers. Since the coordinator cannot provide all of the reference services alone, the key to providing these services for distant education students is to create and sustain good working relationships both in the library and with external entities. Offerings to distance students include phone reference and accessibility to online resources, plus virtual reference and often 24/7 services. This article will examine issues and experiences in bringing together different groups to provide reference services to distant learning communities. It will also describe key relationships necessary for keeping distance reference services at an optimal level.     

Distance Education and Virtual Reference

Abstract

Texas A&M University Libraries has been testing virtual reference services since February 2004, but during the fall semester 2005, the Libraries began implementing and actively promoting the services to various target groups. Distance education students were identified as a primary target group for virtual reference services, and as of the fall semester 2005, approximately 1,600 students were enrolled in 190 distance education classes. This paper presents the Libraries plan for promoting virtual reference services to distance education students and faculty and for evaluating the plan.     

面向远程学习需求的高校数字图书馆功能延伸策略

根据远程学习需求样本调查分析,国内高校数字图书馆远程教育面临着没有实现同质服务、一站式检索、跨库检索、教学资源整合等障碍。借鉴国外先进经验,从扩充资源内容、开展教学互动、建设学习检测平台等方面入手,探讨充分拓展国内高校数字图书馆远程教育功能的策略。     

Career Paths of Distance Education Librarians

ABSTRACT

A growing number of institutions are offering courses and degrees via distance education; however, distance education librarianship is a relatively new and often less defined field of librarianship. This paper will present the results of a survey to discover career paths leading to distance education librarianship. Based on a survey of subscribers to the OFFCAMP listserv, it asked questions such as: Is there a “typical” career path? Does previous or continuing work in other library units benefit a distance education librarian? What are the most important qualifications for a distance education librarian? Profiles of the education and experience of distance education librarians were analyzed for commonalities. The study concluded that distance education librarians come to their positions from a variety of experience, not always in libraries, but predominantly from library public service departments. A typical career path for distance education librarians is not evident at this time.     

The Subject Specialist Librarian's Role in Providing Distance Learning Services

ABSTRACT

Subject specialist librarians play a role in providing resources and services to distance students. The authors surveyed subject librarians and distance librarians, examining how and to what extent subject librarians provide service to distance learners.     

Using Needs Assessment to Determine Library Services for Distance Learning Programs

ABSTRACT

This article provides guidance in using the needs assessment process as a planning tool specifically for library services supporting distance learning programs. The first section covers pre-assessment planning activities, which include defining the specific purpose or purposes of the assessment, assigning responsibility for various aspects of the project, establishing time frames, and defining target groups. The section related to conducting the assessment itself discusses, along with other issues, selecting data collection tools and constructing questions. Promotion of the assessment and methods of encouraging participation are also considered. Since Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery personnel are an integral part of library services, they may be called upon to support distance learning programs. Thus, topics discussed in this article will be applicable to their situations.     

The Role of Libraries in Web-Based Distance Education

Abstract

Even though distance education has a long and diverse history, dating back to 1840, in the last ten-to-fifteen years it has been completely transformed by the emergence of Web-based technology. This technology has had an enormous impact on all aspects of distance education (or distance learning as it is increasingly called). In addition to palpable changes in the teaching and learning processes, library and other support services are also being challenged by change. This paper will provide a brief account and analysis of the impact of Web technology on distance education, as well as its impact on the role of library services for distance learners.     

Assessing Academic Library Services to Distance Learners: A Literature Review of Perspectives from Librarians,Students, and Faculty

Many academic libraries are expanding services to online and distance students to keep pace with enrollment trends in higher education, prompting additional research to evaluate the use and effectiveness of library reference and instruction services to distance users. This literature review explores this research from the perspectives of academic librarians, distance students, and faculty teaching online and distance courses, and finds both commonalities and contradictions among these viewpoints.     

Changing the Face of Reference: Adapting Biomedical and Health Information Services for the Classroom,Clinic, and Beyond

This article describes how the reference department at a large academic health sciences library evolved to address the clinical and research information needs of the parent organization without losing its close connections to the classroom and curriculum. Closing the reference desk, moving to on-call and house call models, designing positions such as clinical research librarian and basic biomedical sciences librarian, finding alternative funding to grow the department, providing technology and training to facilitate librarians' work, and developing programming for and taking advice from library clients facilitated efforts to create a relevant presence and solidify the library's place in the university community.     

No Fixed Address: The Evolution of Outreach Library Services on University Campuses

Remote access to library resources has liberated students and faculty from the brick and mortar library, giving rise to an intense “whither the library” debate. A necessary corollary to this discussion of the future of the library building on campus is the future deployment of the reference librarian cadre. University libraries have been increasingly experimenting with outreach and outpost arrangements that situate librarians in alternate venues, often embedding them among their natural clientele. Librarians have repositioned themselves in student unions, residence halls, and faculty departments to promote information literacy among the diaspora. This review of the literature traces the path that culminated in the outreach model and explores the variations that have evolved at different institutions.     

论图书馆服务应如何适应现代远程教育的发展

本文分析了了图书馆服务在现代远程教育体系中的重要作用,指出了为适应现代远程教育发展,图书馆服务应采取的有关措施。     

An Information Access Model at a Distant Branch Library

Abstract

Academic branch libraries located at a distance from the parent institution often face unique challenges in meeting users' needs for scholarly information. This is especially true for distant branch libraries that do not have a specialized function or collection, but who often face the challenge of meeting users' needs for scholarly materials across a wide array of academic disciplines. This paper discusses the definition of academic branch libraries and the information access plan developed for the Regents Center Library at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus, located some 40 miles from the main parent institution, the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. In addition, a discussion of the mission, academic programs, and special user characteristics of the Edwards Campus that impacted the development of the information access plan is included. Finally, the factors that affected and will continue to affect the plan, along with methods for managing the implementation of the plan, are provided.     

Beyond Circulation: The Evolution of Access Services and Its Relationship to Reference Librarianship

Academic libraries have undergone a variety of organizational changes in the last two decades. One area that has evolved out of these changes is access services. Relationships between circulation, interlibrary loan, and reference have been explored though informal and formal organizational structures. Because of these types of interactions it is feasible for reference librarians to consider positions in access services.     

From Assessment to Implementation: Using Qualitative Interviews to Inform Distance Learning Library Services

ABSTRACT

While broad assessment projects are often used to steer library strategic planning initiatives, this article will present the benefits of qualitative interviews with distance learning constituents as a framework for developing a focused vision and targeted services. This article will describe the planning and execution of an assessment project used to build a foundation for future library resources and services to target off-campus users. The benefits of this analysis will be detailed. Based on the data, implementation strategies were devised to strengthen and further develop the distance learning unit at Florida State University Libraries.     

Planning for Distance Learning

Abstract

The article examines the role that student support services plays in planning a distance learning program, especially the services offered by a university library. The content of the paper is based on the experience the author acquired as a member of Texas Tech University's Distance Learning Council. The Council's efforts to plan a program that will include strong support from the Library are discussed.     

Going the Distance in Academic Libraries: Identifying Trends and Innovation in Distance Learning Resources and Services

In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked nineteen institutions on its Up-and-Coming national universities list. The universities were put on the list based on rankings from experts in higher education administration. The experts were asked to identify institutions that had implemented innovative ideas in the areas of academics, faculty, and student life. This article examines the distance education services and resources that are provided by the libraries at each of the Up-and-Coming universities in order to identify innovative ideas and trends related to the support of distance library users.     

Use of the University Library,Elibrary, VLE,and Other Information Sources by Distance Learning Students in University College Dublin: Implications for Academic Librarianship

This paper reports on a study of the information behavior of Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) distance learning students in the Quinn School of Business, University College Dublin (UCD). In order to gain a better understanding of the information behaviors of distance-learning students, the study sought to answer the following research questions:

• What are the main sources of information for the BBS distance learning students?

• What are student perceptions of the virtual learning environment (VLE), Blackboard employed by the Quinn School of Business?

• To what extent, if any, is there evidence of collaborative information behaviors and practices?

The full cohort of BBS distance-learning students was surveyed. A total of 55 out of 136 (40.4%) responded to the survey. Data were collected by means of a self-completion online questionnaire. The paper presents the findings of the study and considers implications for academic librarianship. The chief sources used by the students to assist them with study are web search engines (primarily Google) and content from the VLE (Blackboard). Search engines and the university elibrary are the main sources used by the students when conducting an information search for their course, however the students also rely significantly on their lecturers with regard to acquiring information for their coursework. The study also found that collaboration with regard to information sharing is a major facet of the information world of this cohort of students.     

Going the Extra Mile: Supporting Distance Education at University of Alaska Fairbanks

ABSTRACT

The Elmer E. Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has a long history of supporting distance education through state-of-the-art, remote access services. Harsh climate conditions (heavy snowfall and icing, high winds, and extreme temperatures), rugged terrain, limited road and telephone systems, and permafrost that prevents the installation of communications networks, all contribute to the challenge of delivering distance education. This article describes and explains the library's services while discussing the challenges of providing information access to a diverse student population living in an area covering over 500,000 square miles.