The Role of the Library in Distance Learning: A Study of Postgraduate Students, Course Providers and Librarians in the UK (British Library Research)

Unwin, Lorna; Stephens, Kate; Bolton, Neil (eds.)

ISBN 10: 1857392213 / ISBN 13: 9781857392210

Published by Bowker-Saur Ltd., London, 1998

About this Item

Hardcover (no jacket) in very good condition. CM.

Seller Inventory # 464875

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Role of the Library in Distance Learning: A Study of Postgraduate Students, Course Providers and Librarians in the UK (British Library Research)
• Publisher: Bowker-Saur Ltd., London
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1857392213
• ISBN 13: 9781857392210
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Book Type: Used
• Seller catalogs:
  • Teaching & Education

About this title

Synopsis

Presents findings of five studies undertaken between 1994 and 1996 looking at the role of libraries in supporting distance-learning students in the UK, particularly the experiences of students with regard to library use and the arrangements made by course providers for library use. Makes recommendations based on study findings and reviews literature from the UK, North America, and Australia. Includes questionnaires from the studies. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Reviews

Distance education programs, greatly expanded during the last ten years, are now moving to the Internet. Many institutional and regional studies regarding library support exist, but this work is the first large-scale national survey for such programs, reporting on four groups involved in British distance education programs. Chapter 2 presents survey results of students enrolled in postgraduate education programs. As a whole, students held positive attitudes toward librarians and libraries but expressed frustration with the time involved in locating materials and the lack of national reciprocal borrowing agreements among academic, public, and special libraries. Also, student diary entries point to high use of local library resources for research needs. A survey of university librarians at six institutions active in distance education programs illustrates problems in serving such students. The important role of public libraries in distance education appears in a survey of 80 main and branch libraries. Public librarians expressed desire for greater coordination of services for these students with sponsoring universities. Finally, a survey of providers of management programs pointed to a lack of unified vision of the library's place in such programs. These findings supplement discussion found in Libraries and Other Academic Support Services for Distance Learning (J.A.I. Pr., 1997). Librarians in institutions supporting such programs will find much to dwell on in this interesting work.?Stephen Hupp, Swedenborg Memorial Lib., Urbana Univ., OH
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