Providing Library Services for the Distance Learner
Presented by:  Christine N. Turner, Digital Services and Instruction Librarian, University of Massachussetts - Amherst

• Christine Turner discussed library services for distance learners at UMass Amherst.
• UMassOnline (http://www.umassonline.net) is a gateway to online education from UMass Boston, Dartmouth, Amherst and Lowell. Through the Division of Continuing Education, it serves as a revenue source for the Amherst campus.
• Library Services for remote users are available at http://www.library.umass.edu/distancelearning/. They include:
  • 200 databases
  • Document delivery
  • Electronic reserves
  • Ask-A-Librarian
  • Research tutorials
• Coordination of services is facilitated by the Library Distance Learning Advisory Group. Externally, there is coordination with the Office of Information Technology, Continuing Education, UMassOnline, and Faculty.
• Challenges and opportunities include:
  • Determining who is a distance learner
  • Revenue stream
  • Content and technology systems integration
  • ACRL DLS Guidelines - http://caspian.switchinc.org/~distlearn/guidelines/

Library Services for an Exponetially Growing Distance Learning Community
Presented by:  Olga Verbeek, Information Systems Librarian, Salve Regina University

• Olga Verbeek spoke of the state of distance education at Salve Regina, past and present.
• Pre-2000, extension studies at Salve Regina were graduate level only, correspondence courses. Now they are graduate and undergraduate, utilizing satellite campuses and WebCT.
• There was a paradigm shift at Salve Regina as they will begin offering an online MBA to 1000 students per semester.
• The university formed committees to address this influx of students and facilitate student access to electronic services.
• Impact on library:
  • Volume of students needing to be entered into ILS
  • Impact on FTE for budgeting for electronic resources
  • Impact on network and server
  • Support in Reference, ILL, Circulation and Liaison areas - particularly, how to support instructors teaching these online courses.
  • Proxy server and web access management issues
• The Information Literacy and Technology Committee (ILTAC), a collaboration between the library and Information Technology department, was formed to support instructors teaching online courses, the university's initiative of Information Literacy across the curriculum, and increase the technology skills of the faculty.
• New expectations and resources include:
  • A guide to creating persistent links
  • User Guides vs. Tutorials (online, interactive)
  • Technical support vs. traditional reference services
  • New ways of communication - entry page to library for extension students http://library.salve.edu/ges/

Demonstration of TechSmith Software Products
Presented by:  Providence College Librarians, Providence College

• In Fall 2003, Providence College is offering 10 strictly online courses through continuing education.
• Librarians offered a demonstration of TechSmith software products useful for creating online tutorials.
• SnagIt software is a leading screen capture software. Camtasia Studio captures screen activity to create videos of actions performed on a Windows desktop.
• EnSharpen produces highly compressed QuickTime videos.
• More information about these products is available at http://www.techsmith.com

Report by:
Bridget Rawding
Head of Electronic Services
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA
bridget.rawding@merrimack.edu
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