Enabling Electronic Resource Access for Distance Learners
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Date
2008-02-28
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INFLIBNET Center
Abstract
Distance Education is gaining lot of prominence in the country due to various socio-economic
parameters and the rising demand for education. The country has got a very comprehensive Distance
Learning system comprising a national open university, 12 state open universities and 127 directorates
of distance education attached to campus universities. The Indira Gandhi National Open University
operates through a three-tier system having University Headquarters at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi;
64 Regional Centres in various States and 1621 Study Centres scattered all over the country. Library
and Documentation Division (L&DD) is a hierarchical system with the Central Library at the Headquarters
followed by branch libraries located at Regional Centres and Study Centres. To provide equitable
information access to distance learners at par with the current national initiatives for campus based
learners, the Library is working to form a library consortium, NODLINET (National Open and Distance
Learners’ Library Network) for distance learning institutions as the network of national Open University,
state Open Universities and directorates of distance education in campus universities in the country.
Distance learning Libraries should concentrate on fulfilling the information needs and requirements
of distance learners by exploring modern information technologies, developing library networks and
negotiating with information providers to strike better learner friendly licensing and access models.
The paper discusses the different barriers in providing electronic resources and services to the
distance learners and arrives at viable suggestions for overcoming the same.
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Keywords
Distance Education, Library Services, e-resources, NODLINET