Distance Education and the Challenges Faced by Libraries and the Way Forward
Keywords:
Distance education, Digital library, Electronic resources, Information service delivery, Library servicesAbstract
Distance education has come to stay because of its manifold benefits to both the populace and the educational sector. The advent of distance learning has ushered in significant changes such as improved access to resources, collaboration across borders, effective management of digital libraries and resources and the acquisition of new skills by practitioners. The library has been greatly transformed to meet with the demands of distance education. This research seeks to investigate the impact of distance education on libraries and the challenges faced with the aim of sensitizing libraries that are yet to embrace this new trend. It also aims at fostering solutions to issues libraries may face as a result of these changes. It was discovered that distance learning caused a revolution in the library, from its resources, services, facilities, routine library operations and core functions. Some significant impacts on the library were in the aspect of scholarly publication and digitization; information literacy and collaboration. The paper suggested that parent institutions should improve library funding. Librarians are also expected to acquire new skills which 21st century libraries demand, if they are to remain relevant. Librarians must be equipped to handle copyright and licencing issues in the library and also the issue of compliance in the organization.
Résumé
L'enseignement à distance est devenu absolument nécessaire en raison de ses nombreux avantages, tant pour la population que pour le secteur éducatif. L'avènement de l'enseignement à distance a entraîné des changements significatifs tels qu'un meilleur accès aux ressources, une collaboration transfrontalière, une gestion efficace des bibliothèques et des ressources numériques ainsi que l'acquisition de nouvelles compétences par les bibliothécaires. La bibliothèque est considérablement transformée pour répondre aux exigences de l'enseignement à distance. Cette recherche vise à examiner l'impact de l'enseignement à distance sur les bibliothèques et les défis accompagnants. On a découvert que l'enseignement à distance a provoqué une révolution dans la bibliothèque, qu'il s'agisse de ses ressources, de ses services, de ses installations, de ses opérations de routine ou de ses fonctions essentielles. L'objectif de cette recherche est de sensibiliser les bibliothèques qui n'ont pas encore adopté cette nouvelle tendance et également de trouver des solutions aux défis auxquels les bibliothèques peuvent être confrontées en raison de ces changements. Certains impacts significatifs sur les bibliothèques se situent dans le domaine de la publication et de la numérisation des ouvrages scientifiques, de la maîtrise de l'information et de la collaboration. La recherche suggère que les institutions tutelle doivent améliorer le financement des bibliothèques. On attend également des bibliothécaires qu'ils acquièrent de nouvelles compétences que les bibliothèques du 21e siècle exigent, si elles veulent rester pertinentes. Les bibliothécaires doivent être équipés pour gérer les questions de droits d'auteur et de licences dans la bibliothèque, ainsi que la conformité dans l'organisation.
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