Edinburgh University Library Committee Agendum 15
Support for Online Distance Learning
Introduction
This paper shows how the Library is already supporting distance learning, and suggests ways in which this support can be improved as the University develops its distance education portfolio. Library Committee is asked for its guidance as to whether this seems appropriate. It is interesting to note that, although this paper addresses issues for distance students, that these developments will also support local students, who can often behave like distant students, for example in working from home. A full library service for distant students is complex, and in some cases, alternative methods for service delivery are suggested.
‘There continues to be a growing international demand for access to diverse, high quality, HE courses which can be pursued remotely. The University has created a framework which will both encourage the development of Online Distance Learning (ODL) and permit individual schemes to be developed and implemented. The University is currently implementing a strategy for marketing ODL courses’’ (University of Edinburgh Strategic Plan 2003-7 p.15 (1)
The Library will seek to support these initiatives by providing support to Online Distance Learners through existing services, and by their enhancement, subject to available resources.
This paper is offered in the form of a checklist/aide-memoire for potential Course Organisers. It is couched in the spirit of “can-do”, noting that a no-cost or low-cost solution is desirable, and that what we offer should be nested into existing provision as far as possible. A web-page for distance learners is being developed to offer more detailed advice about resources and services.
Much ODL support is already available within existing services, or with low-cost adaptations. In setting local standards for provision, a useful rule of thumb is to establish what would be available to students if the course were to be offered on site and to attempt to offer a similar service to ODL’s, though this may attract additional costs. Three potential areas of activity will definitely bring additional cost – Electronic Reserve, Inter-Library loans, and Postal Loans.
Currently, the point of contact for Course Developers and students is the Liaison Librarian for the subject, but it should be noted, however, that many organisations have a dedicated individual or unit to support Online Distance Learners and that a growing demand may require such a service to be developed here, with the attendant costs. Some examples are listed at (18).
Unfortunately, there are no agreed UK national standards for service to distance learners and thus provision differs widely from institution to institution. The American Library Association Guideline offers a useful comparator. (2)
Services for distance learning.
Those marked with an asterisk are already developed. Joining the University/Library
• Matriculation – User status as ODL (with Registry) (3) • Registration for Student E-Mail Account (with EUCS) (4) • Athens authentication (5)
While it is technically possible to do the above processes from off-campus, the technology at this stage is not intuitive and user-friendly, and thus does not present the best welcome to the University for students. It is recommended that these processes be done centrally as part of the process of course application and password etc. mailed to new students.
Advice on using Library services
• *Integration within course VLE’s (organised via Liaison Librarian) (7) • *Assistance via Ask a Librarian (8)
• Webpage for ODL’s on Library Online (under development) Locating resources
• *Access to Library Catalogue (8)
• *Self-guided information skills training (9) • *Resources by Subject web-pages (10) Access to E- resources
• *Electronic journals (11) • *Databases (12)
It should be noted that due to licence restrictions that not all electronic resources can be made available off-campus.
• *Electronic Course Reserve (organised via Liaison Librarian (7)
This service is currently provided for key texts only, and is presently paid for by the Library. Fees are on a course-by-course basis, and are based on the number of pages and the number of students. This is a year-on-year recurrent cost. It should be noted that not all publishers are willing to give copyright clearance, and also that fees are often high and may not be cost-effective. It would be possible to prioritise distance learning courses for e-reserve. (Appendix 1 – Sample Costings)
Access to Printed Resources
• *UK Libraries Plus - a co-operative venture between UK H.E. Libraries, making it easier for students and staff to use libraries conveniently near to home or work - at no admission fee (14)
• *SCONUL Vacation Access - Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students at UK colleges of higher education or UK or Irish universities are normally be granted reference use of other higher education libraries free of charge during the vacations of the host institution. (15)
• *SCONUL Research Extra – borrowing at 141 libraries for academic staff on open or fixed term contracts and postgraduate research students registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar research qualification. (16)
• *SHARES - Research Library Group’s Interlending and Document Supply Partnership. On-site reciprocity is limited to allowing access to collections and references sources. Borrowing and inter-library-loan services are not provided. (17)
• Inter-Library Loan (17) –British Library does not send photocopies or books direct to overseas addresses (Appendix 1 – Sample Costings)
• Postal Loan Service could be developed (Appendix 1 – Sample Costings)
• Course Organisers might wish to consider partnership/franchise arrangements with overseas libraries.
Denny Colledge
References
1.) UoE Strategic Plan: http://www.planning.ed.ac.uk/StrategicPlan.htm 2.) American Library Association Guidelines:
http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ACRL/Standards_and_Guidelines/Guidel ines_for_Distance_Learning_Library_Services1.htm
3.) Card Services: http://www.card.ed.ac.uk/
Registry: http://www.registry.ed.ac.uk/Staff/Matriculation/Default.htm 4.) EUCS: http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/EUCS/entitlement.html
5.) Athens Registration: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resources/databases/athens.shtml Remote access: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/howto/remote_access.shtml
Proxy Cache Service: http://webhelp.ucs.ed.ac.uk/docs/proxycache.html#external 6.) Information for Colleges: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/forcolleges/index.html
7.) Ask a Librarian: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/services/requests.shtml 8.) Library Catalogue: http://catalogue.lib.ed.ac.uk/
9.) How To…http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/howto/
10.) Resources by Subject: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resbysub/
11.) Electronic journals: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resources/collections/serials/ejintro.shtml 12.) Databases http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resources/databases/
13.) UK Libraries Plus http://www.uklibrariesplus.ac.uk/ 14.) SCONUL vacation access scheme
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/use_lib/vacation.html
15.) SCONUL Research Plus Extra http://www.sconul.ac.uk/use_lib/srx/ 16.) RLG SHARES http://www.rlg.ac.uk/shares/onsite.html
17.) Inter-Library Loans http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/services/ill1.shtml 18.) Examples of provision elsewhere
Deakin University Off-Campus Library service: http://www.deakin.edu.au/library/services/students_off/ Leicester University Library Distance Learning Unit: http://www.le.ac.uk/li/distance/index.htm
Open University’s Open Library: http://www.open.ac.uk/library Sheffield Hallam University Distance Learning Support Service: http://www.shu.ac.uk/services/lc/dl/index.html
Appendix – Sample Costings
Electronic Course Reserve Costs vary hugely.
£2429 for 164 items for 110 students £ 446 for 14 items for 25 students £ 568 for 4 items for 180 students £1319 for 38 items for 45 students £ 150 for 7 items for 123 students £ 75 for 20 items for 1250 students Inter Library Loans – Staff costs
These vary from £7.12 per hour at CN2 to £9.80 per hour at CN5 depending on the complexity of the enquiry
1. Basic photocopy request from British Library £1.00 2. Basic Loan from British Library £1.50
If neither of these is successful, we search COPAC. Each search £1.00, subsequent applications £0.25 If COPAC is unsuccessful, we go to EUREKA or First Search. (CN5 rates take over at this point) Each search £2.00
Inter Library Loans - Postage, stationery, handling
British Library Fees - £6.85 per loan, £4.10 per photocopy, plus VAT. There is an additional charge if an item is renewed.
Book 1kg Local £3.67 First Class Europe £4.54 Airmail USA £9.27 Airmail
Padded bag £0.19 from Stationery Supplies Office Staff time per package is approximately 5 minutes Book above 1kg via Securicor (UK only) £5.40 per item
via Royal Mail Air Service (mainly Europe) additional cost £4.00 Padded bag £0.19 from Stationery Supplies Office
Staff time per package is approximately 5 minutes Postal Loan Service
This would be a new service, with costs similar to those for Inter-Library loans, but without the British Library fee. It should be noted that current loan periods would not be suitable and would require a policy change. (Our loan periods are not ungenerous, but are reduced if another borrower requests an item. ODL’s would reasonably expect to be able to keep an item for the original loan period, because some time will be lost “in-transit” and not least because they will be liable for the cost of returning the item to us.
