Washington State University Libraries

Learning Centers (Community Users)

1. What are the unique needs of this user group?

Learning Centers are used by entire local communities for instruction and development programs, including those that are non-WSU affiliated. Learning Centers can be found integrated within community college campuses or separate from other learning institutions as a sort of store-front for WSU.

Because the WSU Libraries can only serve those affiliated with our institution, there are many users of Learning Centers who are not served by us. Learning Center staff have traditionally been less current in their knowledge of research and databases, and probably are not comfortable in helping students with our databases.

2. How is this group currently supported by the Libraries?

The DLWG attempts to email announcements and updates to the Learning Center listserv every semester. Once a year there are attempts to contact or identify staff who have questions or issues related to library services.

There is an web page which is part of the Distance Degree Library Services web site targeted for Learning Center staff. The page includes basic information on library use, links to policies, and information on careers available to students who complete the various degrees offered by WSU DDP.

3. How is this support communicated and promoted to them?

Via listserv and web site. Occasionally, the LC staff meet in Pullman and the Distance Learning Librarian has been invited to those meetings to demonstrate resources.

4. Does this group have an official liaison from the Libraries?

Distance Learning Librarian

5. What problems does this group have with accessing library services?

Increasingly, it seems that local public libraries are attempting to set up formalized relationships with the Learning Centers. There is no document delivery to the Learning Centers, so it is rather difficult to promote services to them as an entity. Additionally, Learning Center computers are set up in different ways depending on where they are located. The more "independent" Learning Centers tend to have computers configured with WSU IP addresses. Other centers, located within community colleges, may have local IP. As far as database access, this situation makes it difficult to address issues in any cohesive.