Electronic Resources in the Virtual Learning

Open Archives Initiative (OAI)
An important development that has its roots in the development of e-
print archives is the Open Archives Initiative (OAI).
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The OAI develops
and promotes interoperability standards that aim to facilitate the
efficient dissemination of content. This is discussed in more detail in
Chapter 5.
Reading list management systems
Reading list management has been a problem for academic libraries for
many years, both in ensuring that up-to-date lists of resources are
received by the library for acquisition purposes, and that students obtain
access to these resources. Currently, this seems to be a key area where the
synergies between digital libraries and e-learning systems are most
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The digital library
apparent. Several major library management system vendors have
developed reading list modules to help solve this problem. In addition, a
number of new companies have established reading list management
systems which integrate with both library management systems and e-
learning software.
Reading lists are also increasingly being seen not simply as lists of
books in the library, but as resource lists, which point to resources in no
matter what format. So a resource list can include books and journals
held in printed format that need to be consulted in the library, but also
electronic journals which can be accessed through an institutional
subscription, or a web page available for students to download. Reading
lists featured in several of the Digital Library and Virtual Learning
Environments (DiVLE) projects and were the primary focus of the
DELIVER (Digital Electronic Library Integrating Virtual EnviRonments)
Project. This is discussed in more detail in Chapter 2.
Sheffield University Library has reading lists for certain departments
mounted on the library website. These are then linked to the university
catalogue, which uses Talis software. More information is provided in
Chapter 6 about this example. John Rylands University Library of
Manchester also has reading lists linked to their library catalogue, again
using the Talis software. At John Rylands a wide range of departments
have provided reading lists for many different courses. Course material
is also available, such as essay questions, although this varies depending
on individual lecturers. Where material is available as a website this is
linked directly from the reading list. Electronic journals are also linked
from the OPAC, so users can access some course material directly. A
different approach is taken at Aberdeen University which has what is
known as a ‘course handbook library’. This is an electronic library of
student handbooks and other course material provided by teaching
departments. It is intended to be used for backup and reference purposes,
as most of the documents included in the library are handed out or
offered for sale within the relevant courses. Some of the material in this
database is only open to members of Aberdeen University and access is
controlled by password. Not all course material is available via the
library and it is the responsibility of individual lecturers to tell students
when material is held on the departmental website.
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Electronic Resources in the Virtual Learning Environment
Conclusion
This chapter has provided an overview of the development of digital
libraries from the early 1990s. The chapter first examined key research
and development in the area, including the work of the JISC in the UK
and the NSF in the US. The second part of the chapter provided an
overview of some key digital library services and systems, such as
electronic journals, e-books, electronic reserves and library portals. The
chapter includes many developments, which may be familiar to
librarians, but sets the scene for the remainder of the book. Chapter 2
considers e-learning and how this has developed in parallel with the
digital library. An important aspect of Chapter 2 is concerned with how,
since 2000, e-learning and digital libraries have become increasingly
interlinked, and how in the future the importance of integration between
both systems and the communities of support staff will become essential.
Notes
1.
Cornell Institute for Digital Collections. Hp. Cornell University. Available
from: http://cidc.library.cornell.edu/.
2.
Paul Conway. Project Open Book. Hp. Yale University. Available from: