The report looks closely at how libraries are servicing distance learning programs. The report presents hard data on materials purchasing for distance learning student, use of eBooks and videos, the impact of distance learning on licensing of resources, the provision of information literacy classes and tutorials, shipping costs, relations with faculty and students, staffing and budgeting, and many other facets of distance learning librarianship.
Just a few of the report's many findings are that:
- More than 50% of college libraries sampled offered some type of training program or special class to distance learning students.
- 72.73% of colleges with between 500 and 2,000 distance learning students had a distance learning webpage on their website that catered specifically to the needs of distance learning students.
- Online courses in information literacy were offered by 28.24% of colleges in the sample; 40% of colleges with less than 2,000 students enrolled offered them.
- 77.78% of research universities offered video tutorials in information literacy, and public colleges offered them somewhat more than private colleges did.
- No college with less than 500 distance learning students specifically allocated funds for distance learners in its budget.
- 4-year degree granting colleges and MA and PHD granting colleges were the most critical of their efforts to cater to distance learners, with 62.5% and 60% saying that they should be doing more.
- In general, public college libraries were on better terms than private college libraries with distance learning programs; community colleges were on the best terms of all, 63.16% said they had better relations with distance learning programs than with other programs and departments.
Data in the nearly 100 page report is based on a survey of more than 75 academic libraries; data is broken out by type of college, size of the total student population and size of distance learning program.
|
