More frequently, students remain at their distant locations and library personnel communicate with them via e-mail and the Library's 800 number. This Spring 1999, distance education graduate courses are being offered from the Schools of Business, Education, Pharmacy and Forestry. The Rural Institute on Disabilities is also involved. The Faculty Initiative Improved communication with all the participants has now developed as the key element for the Library's successful participation in distance education. Of particular emphasis is contact with the teaching faculty.
Faculty give the assignments that require students to locate information resources.
Collaboration with teaching faculty can also foster effective instructional components focused on information resources. Electronic access to library resources and effective search techniques for Internet resources become embedded into the curriculum and serve the student as they begin research projects within their class assignments. In addition to collaboration with teaching faculty, the library incorporates a direct contact with enrolled students through distribution of a printed guide describing how to communicate electronically with the Mansfield Library. Once students have that information, the resources and services of the Library unfold through Web access. Electronic access to key indices, including full-text databases, are available to students at their desktops.