Enabling Electronic Resource Access for Distance Learners

Abstract

Distance Education is gaining lot of prominence in the country due to various socio-economic parameters and the rising demand for education. The country has got a very comprehensive Distance Learning system comprising a national open university, 12 state open universities and 127 directorates of distance education attached to campus universities. The Indira Gandhi National Open University operates through a three-tier system having University Headquarters at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi; 64 Regional Centres in various States and 1621 Study Centres scattered all over the country. Library and Documentation Division (L&DD) is a hierarchical system with the Central Library at the Headquarters followed by branch libraries located at Regional Centres and Study Centres. To provide equitable information access to distance learners at par with the current national initiatives for campus based learners, the Library is working to form a library consortium, NODLINET (National Open and Distance Learners’ Library Network) for distance learning institutions as the network of national Open University, state Open Universities and directorates of distance education in campus universities in the country. Distance learning Libraries should concentrate on fulfilling the information needs and requirements of distance learners by exploring modern information technologies, developing library networks and negotiating with information providers to strike better learner friendly licensing and access models. The paper discusses the different barriers in providing electronic resources and services to the distance learners and arrives at viable suggestions for overcoming the same.