The Roles that Librarians and Libraries Play in Distance Education Settings
This article explores the literature that focuses on the various roles librarians and libraries play in distance education settings. Learners visit libraries either in person or via networked computing technology to ask for help with their online courses. Questions range from how to upload a document with a learning management system, to how to use software and hardware, to more complex questions about how to locate and research articles for term papers. The literature reviewed provides a glimpse into the historical roles, current roles, as well as possible new roles that libraries and librarians may play in the future. This article identifies various library services that are essential to distant learners and distance education settings, and will explain how librarians and libraries are providing these services online.
Application of Information and Communication Technologies in Library and Information Services to Distance Learning Students at the University of Zambia
........................................................................................................iv Dedication......................................................................................................v Acknowledgements...........................................................................................vi List of Tables..................................................................................................xi List of figures................................................................................................xiii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms.....................................................................xiv Chapter One: Introduction...................................................................................1 1.0 Overview................................................................................................1 1.1 Background to the study.............................................................................1 1.2 Background to distance education..................................................................2 1.2.1 Distance education at UNZA........................................................................3 1.2.2 History of library support to distance education students.......................................5 1.2.2.1 Postal loan service....................................................................................5 1.2.2.2 Specific collection for distance learners...........................................................5 1.3 Role of the library in distance learning............................................................5 1.4 Statement of the problem............................................................................7 1.5 Purpose of the study..................................................................................7 1.6 Study objectives.......................................................................................8 1.7 Research questions....................................................................................8 1.8 Significance of the study.............................................................................8 1.9 Limitations of the study..............................................................................9 1.10 Operational definitions...............................................................................9 1.11 Summary.............................................................................................10 Chapter Two: Literature Review........................................................................11 2.0 Overview.............................................................................................11 2.1 Role of the library in distance education and access entitlement.............................11 2.2 Distance learners’ ability to access information using ICTS..................................12 2.3 Using ICTs in library and information service provision to distance learners..............13 2.4 ICT model/framework on library and information services support to distance learners................................................................................................16 2.5 Policy on library and information services to distance learners...............................18 2.6 Characteristics of the distance learner............................................................20 2.7 Conclusion...........................................................................................21
Factors influencing distance-education graduate students' use of information sources: A user study
A survey of a group of distance graduate students showed their strong preference for easy and fast information retrieval and a significant association between motivation for using information and field of study. Motivation and field of study also explained differences in primary information source selection and use of home institution libraries.