Library Use in the E-learning Environment

ABSTRACT

Are the library needs and expectations of students and faculty at a distance different than those of on-campus students and faculty? This article details and synthesizes the results of two studies conducted to assess Penn State University's World Campus students and faculty perceptions, expectations and use of Web-based library resources and services. The results provide insight into challenges and issues surrounding service to a virtual academic community. This article will highlight which library resources and services were rated as being the most valuable and important to World Campus users, and how the combined results of the two studies illuminate a widely applicable path for further development of library services to patrons at a distance.

Key Words:

• Distance education
• e-learning
• Penn State University World Campus
• distance learnerslibrary services
• distance education faculty-library services