Distance learning courses and programs are being offered by increasing numbers of higher education institutions. In the United States, approximately eighty-five percent of community colleges offer some time of distance education. Computer technologies are being employed as teaching tools and distance learning students have developed an expectation of convenience and instant responsiveness. Library services for distance education students should be tailored to their specific needs, utilizing online technologies in combination with traditional services. Statistics show that many community college libraries do not provide special services for their distance learners. Rio Salado College, a non-traditional college in Arizona, is profiled and the college model for library services is detailed.
The reference librarians at Pellissippi State Technical Community College developed an online library instruction tutorial to help them teach information literacy skills to students, faculty, and staff. The tutorial, a requirement for all English 1010 students, teaches library patrons to use the college's OPAC and its online periodical indexes. The tutorial includes an online quiz/evaluation. View the tutorial at the following: URL: http://www.pstcc.cc.tn.us/library/tutorial2
After hiring their first full time, professional librarian and assigning a new budget to the library, Dunwoody Institute makes a commitment to growing a full service library. The history of Dunwoody and the Learning Resources Center is discussed. With an emphasis on customer service, the strategic plan is mapped out for the future.
Electronic resource sharing is a way for university, college, community college, junior and two-year college libraries to offer electronic databases at a reduced expense to the institution. Electronic databases are also of value in the growing field of distance education. Several states are establishing networks for resource sharing. Florida offers these resources through the Florida Distance Learning Library Initiative. The State of Wisconsin has BadgerLink and WISCAT. TexShare provides library resource sharing in the state of Texas, and the state of Louisiana has LOUIS and LLN. These are some of the states successfully demonstrating electronic resource sharing.
Delta College Library incorporated planning for a new facility with input from all college disciplines. Site visits to other new facilities aided design. Things don't just happen; you make them happen.
Community college libraries need to address the problems of disenfranchised, impoverished, and disadvantaged American. Community college students, who tend to be older, poorer, and have greater responsibilities than traditional college students, tend also to have a greater need for developmental and remedial programming. Both community colleges and libraries are known for their commitment to serving students and patrons, so it is logical that community college students' needs should be emphasized in community college libraries. This paper explores different techniques that can and have been utilized for this purpose along with the political and motivational obstacles to implementing them.
The Library Cup at Kaskaskia College
by Kathy Kaldenburg
kathy_55@yahoo.com
page 67-70
Washtenaw Community College Library Participates in CORC
by Mike Rusk
mrusk@tulsa.cc.ok.us
page 71-72
Transcribed by Emma McCulloch
16 October 2000