A new report has just been released by the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL). Here's the press release:
LIBRARIES TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN E-LEARNING
OTTAWA December 19, 2005 – The use of electronic learning in Canadian institutions has increased by as much as 30% over the past five years - and library participation has kept pace.
In 2002–2003 over 330,000 students at CARL institutions took advantage of instruction in using library online resources. Academic librarians, faculty and staff are providing direct access to thousands of online journals and databases and are increasingly integrating electronic library resources and learning techniques into online courses.
These are among the conclusions of Libraries and E-Learning – Final Report of the CARL E-Learning Working Group. The Report was commissioned by the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) to investigate the role of libraries in e-learning and to explore the further potential for CARL and CARL members in e-learning.
The Report finds that libraries’ ‘pull’ service model agrees well with progressive higher education teaching and learning models. However, although library staff work closely with faculty at the local level on course design and content, librarians have not yet assumed these responsibilities in broader online learning policy or Learning Management System design.
The Report calls for CARL and CARL libraries to act at the institutional, national and international level to ensure that library services and resources are integrated into learning management systems, and that library expertise benefits teachers and learners directly. It recommends that librarians take the lead in the consolidation of Learning Object Repository management and licensing practices, in order to bring an orderly approach to management and use of shared instructional across Canada.
“Our business is information acquisition and dissemination,” stated Lynn Copeland, Chair of the CARL E-Learning Working Group. “Libraries are critical in helping design the systems and services that serve the needs of information seekers and in integrating them into the learner’s online world.”
“Academic libraries are continually working to identify value-added resources for their institutions.” says John Teskey, CARL President. “This report clearly identifies some of the key areas where libraries can partner within the Academy to provide an enhanced learning environment for our students”.
Libraries and E-Learning – Final Report of the CARL E-Learning Working Group is available at http://www.carl-abrc.ca/new/new-e.html
CARL is the leadership organization for the Canadian research library community. The Association’s members are the 27 major academic research libraries across Canada and Library and Archives Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) and the Library of Parliament.
I haven't read the full report yet (it's only 23 pages, but my printer's down right now)
