Library Meets Research Needs of All Students Via the Internet

CONTACT: CAROLINE SCHARER, EXT. 2254

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/5/99
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- These days, when Tri-County Technical College students begin research assignments, the work doesn't have to begin at the campus library. Students have a choice of accessing information from two different locations -- at one of the library's 11 World Wide Web-accessible computers or the convenience of home if they have a computer and Internet access. From either location, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they have access to Tri-County's book catalog, thousands of full-text journals, specialized indexes and electronic reserves.

"This is not your father's library," said the College's Library Director Caroline Scharer. "Tri-County's library is preparing to meet the needs of the 21st century student by expanding the variety of information sources available and extending access to all Tri-County students, no matter where they are, no matter when they need it."

Sarah Shumpert, the College's Information Literacy librarian, Ms. Scharer and their colleagues from other technical colleges in the state will talk about the challenges of providing library services to distance learning students at the
upcoming South Carolina Technical Education Association conference. The 16 technical colleges in the state are working together to formulate a plan for offering efficient and cost-effective library services to all students, said Ms. Scharer.

Currently, Tri-County offers distance learning classes for its Textile Management Technology students who cannot attend textile classes because of work schedule conflicts. Next year, the Veterinary Technology department, the only two-year program of its kind in the state, will launch its distance learning services in conjunction with Midlands Technical College in Columbia. Around 40 percent of the program's students reside outside of the tri-county area.

Today, distance learning encompasses World Wide Web teleclasses, courses in a box (video) and even dual credit classes for high school students in the area. "Regardless of student's location, we must supply him or her with library services," said Ms. Scharer. For example, last fall Tri-County instructors taught six dual credit subjects at 13 high schools in the area. These high school students receive Tri-County Tech library cards, have access to resources and receive the Information Literacy classes.

Traditional services, such as the card catalog, print periodical indexes and microfiche have been updated through computer technology. Today's library users access the catalog via the Internet, whether on campus or from a remote location, such as home or another school. Students also access thousands of periodicals from
online databases transmitted via the World Wide Web. Included among these online databases is a service called DISCUS (Digital Information for South Carolina Users) sponsored by the South Carolina State Library.

DISCUS offers access to a program called InfoTrac SearchBank which allows users to access periodical articles, pamphlets, company profiles, and reference book articles on a wide variety of topics. Other online databases cover specialty topics such as literature, healthcare, history and technology. "Students have adapted amazingly well to these computerized library sources," said Ms. Shumpert. "Even adult learners who are returning to school after many years quickly master the point-and-click interface of the World Wide Web," she said.

Tri-County's library catalog has been automated since 1995, and the library has been making the transition from CD ROM-based periodical indexes to the online databases since it was connected to the Internet in 1997. "The biggest advantage of receiving online databases via the Web is that students can now access periodical articles from off campus," said Ms. Shumpert. "As long as students have a valid library card number, they can log on to the DISCUS service from any web-accessible computer in the world," she said. The library regularly offers workshops and distributes instructional brochures on how to access and use DISCUS, the online catalog, and the other online databases available.

Students can access Tri-County Technical College's home page at www.tricounty.tec.sc.us and from there link to the Library's web page, which
includes more information about library services, as well as a link to the online catalog. If students are having problems finding information on a topic or want recommendations on where to locate specifics, they can e-mail reference questions to tricty.tricounty.tec.sc.us .

"This is an exciting time for libraries," said Ms. Scharer. "We're just at the ground floor in building a 'library without walls' for all of the South Carolina students in the technical education system, and we look forward to what the future will bring."
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