Technology and People: Some Challenges when Integrating Digital Library Systems into Online Learning Environments

Abstract

In October 2002 the UK Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funded a new Programme which aimed to examine the technical, pedagogical and organisational issues of linking digital library systems and VLEs. Previous JISC-funded projects such as HyLife (1) and INSPIRAL (2) had identified a need for closer integration between the library and teaching communities, and more particularly between online learning activities and the digital learning resources needed to support them. This new Programme, known as ‘Linking Digital Libraries with VLEs’ (DiVLE) (3) funded ten projects to explore how local institutional digital library resources and services might best be integrated into online learning environments by testing emerging technologies and developing new tools to enable this process. Alongside the concern for providing appropriate technological solutions was an awareness of the impact which new technologies might have upon the people asked to use them, and so user consultation was a feature of several of the projects. The programme began in October 2002, and was completed in September 2003, although dissemination activities still continue.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge the contribution of the many project staff, who patiently explained what they were aiming to do and the issues they were facing, and the help of colleagues in CERLIM and CSALT. All websites were accessed on 30 January, 2004