You think you've got it rough?

Going the Extra Mile: Supporting Distance Education at University of Alaska Fairbanks, Suzan Hahn, Lisa Lehman, Rheba Dupras

Abstract:
The Elmer E. Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has a long history of supporting distance education through state-of-the-art, remote access services. Harsh climate conditions (heavy snowfall and icing, high winds, and extreme temperatures), rugged terrain, limited road and telephone systems, and permafrost that prevents the installation of communications networks, all contribute to the challenge of delivering distance education. This article describes and explains the library's services while discussing the challenges of providing information access to a diverse student population living in an area covering over 500,000 square miles.

Journal of Access Services : Service Innovations for 21st Century Libraries Volume: 4 Issue: 1/2 Page Range: 1 - 28 ISSN: 1536-7967 Pub Date: 10/31/2007 doi:10.1300/J204v04n01_01