Circulation Services for Distance Education: A Case Study Comparing Two Institutions

ABSTRACT

The way students experience higher education in today's world is rapidly changing, and students have the choice to earn their college degree in a number of non-traditional ways. Library services also need to transform to meet the needs of all students regardless of how they experience higher education. The following article outlines how library circulation and document delivery services can be provided to distance education students. Two institutions' services are compared: the distance education circulation services offered at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University and the equivalent services at the Ottenheimer Library at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This case study provides examples of how document delivery and interlibrary loan can fill the resource needs of distance education patrons.

KEYWORDS:

• Continuing education
• delivery systems
• ground delivery
• ILLiad
• interlibrary loan departments
• resource sharing