Virtual Library Proposal for the Regents Online Degree

Virtual Library Proposal

Introduction

This proposal for a Virtual Library to support the Regents Online Degree had its beginnings in discussions during two sessions held by Sub-committee 2C, the TBR Task Force for Asychronous Online Education at the Renaissance Center during the Spring, 2000 semester. It was further developed in the Fall, 2000 semester by Sub-Committee 04 of the TBR Online Degree Committee on Accreditation, Policies and Guidelines. The proposal was approved by the TBR Online Degree Committee on Accreditation, Policies and Guidelines on November 14, 2000.

The Virtual Library

SACS requires that library and media sources and services support online education. A virtual library is recommended as the most appropriate method of delivery for library services for online education. A virtual catalog is a component of the virtual library and will provide access to the resources of all the 19 TBR institutions. It can be accessed through the workstations in the libraries of any of the institutions and from a PC in the home or office of any student/faculty associated with any of the institutions. The Virtual Library will supplement existing resources and services at each individual TBR library.

Mission

The virtual catalog will meet the curricula and research needs of students and faculty involved in the Regents Online Degree Program by providing author, title and subject access to materials in all 19 TBR institutions. It will provide access to books, periodicals, audio-visuals, digitized sources, most electronic databases and Internet sites.

Vision

There will be seamless access to global information for students and faculty. Users will be able to search the library catalog of one institution at a time or the catalogs of 19 libraries simultaneously. Books identified using the virtual catalog can be retrieved through interlibrary loan. Many full-text articles can be copied by users. Articles which cannot be copied can be delivered from the host library by digital transmission using ARIEL software.

Databases in the Virtual Library

All of the databases in the Tennessee Electronic Library will be available to students and faculty. Among some of these databases are: Business and Company ASAP, Contemporary Literary Criticism, Expanded Academic Index, and Health Resource Center, Other electronic databases will be available through the Virtual Library or through individual institutions. Because of licensing agreements, some databases may not be available, however.

Online Tutorials

There are presently several online tutorials, which can be accessed by students and faculty seeking reference services on the websites of the TBR Libraries. However, a tutorial in the use of the new virtual catalog will be developed.

TBR Support

It is recommended that TBR provide physical, fiscal and technical support for the development and maintenance of the virtual catalog.

Physical

It is recommended that the virtual catalog be based in the TBR headquarters.

Fiscal

SiteSearch software provides access to all online resources, including catalogs, databases, tutorials, etc. Sitesearch provides a consistent interface for searching in all the TBR Libraries at once. It is available from the Online College Library Center (OCLC). According to Douglas Potts at OCLC headquarters, the costs of the software for over 106,000 students in the 19 TBR institutions would be:

First Year: - $108,000 for one year for a Site Search site license (SiteSearch includes both Web Z and Database Builder Software)

Subsequent years:

- Maintenance 15% (approximately $16,000) of the license fee

Training:

- Training for two person and 10 hours of project implementation help is also included in the initial license fee. Technical support including telephone, e-mail, Fax and website is included in the above fees.

Technical

Staff to adminster the virtual catalog would be supplied by TBR

Support of TBR Institutions

ARIEL

Some TBR institutions have ARIEL software. Others will need to purchase it at an estimated cost of $8,000.00

Conclusion The TBR Virtual Library and Catalog has limitless possibilities. The Libraries of the University of Tennessee could be asked to join. Librarians at many private colleges and universities are interested in the project. At this point, we merely want to launch it!

Prepared by the Subcommittee 04 of the TBR Committee for Accreditation, Policies and Guidelines

Dr. Donald Joyce, APSU, Chair
Dr. Yildiz Binkley, TSU
Scott Cohen, JSCC
Peter Nerzak, PSTCC
Last updated on January 10, 2001