mmu | cerlim

BIBDEL Libraries Without Walls: the delivery of library services to distant users

EC DGXIII Project - Telematics for Libraries

NOTE: This project was completed while the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM) was based at the University of Central Lancashire during 1993-98. On 1 April 1998, CERLIM moved to a new base at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Three university libraries worked together to explore the delivery of library and information services 'at a distance' through the use of information technology. Each partner investigated particular services, from catalogue access to enquiry-handling, and the related library and information management issues.

The work was inspired by the need to provide higher education to remote communities throughout Europe. Advanced study requires access to library materials and services which are not locally available, and the project partners developed demonstration experiments to explore ways in which libraries might provide the resources and services enjoyed by students and academic staff in more densely populated areas.

The project was part-funded by the Libraries Programme of DG XIII of the European Commission for 18 months (February 1994 - July 1995) and involved the University of the Aegean in Greece, Dublin City University and the University of Central Lancashire (the coordinating partner) through its Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM).

The library at the University of Central Lancashire built on current links with franchised colleges throughout Lancashire and Cumbria. One of the colleges was located in a sparsely populated area. Students and staff registered at the Newton Rigg College of Agriculture near Penrith travelled considerable distances to use advanced materials and services in other academic libraries. The challenge was to provide the small college library with direct support from the University library through access to the catalogue, document delivery and easy routes to subject specialist librarians for enquiries and advice.

The situation at the University of the Aegean was similar. Departments and faculties were distributed over four of the Greek islands, each with a small library covering the subjects taught there. Course content was increasingly overlapping as subjects became more inter-disciplinary, and the subject/island libraries needed to be linked together to support the curricular needs of students and the research needs of academic staff.

The library at Dublin City University explored the needs of distance learners throughout Ireland who rarely had the opportunity to use the library service in person. The library liaised with the National Distance Education Centre, which is a faculty of the University.

The management issues addressed by BIBDEL included library staff training, user needs identification and education, the scope for co-operation between libraries, cost-effectiveness of IT used in these situations, and any resulting cost benefits.

A key item on the project agenda was to disseminate interesting and good practice. An international seminar was held in September 1995 to share experiences with colleagues throughout the European Union. BIBDEL also delivered a series of 'toolkit techniques' reports on aspects of managing the delivery of library and information services, and a formal report on the project as a whole.

For details please contact the project Researcher:

Geoff Butters

Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM)
Manchester Metropolitan University
Department of Information and Communications
Geoffrey Manton Building
Rosamond Street West
Manchester M15 6LL UK