Towards a Strategy for Supporting Distance-Learning Students through Networked Access to Information: Issues and Challenges in Preparing To Support the Doctorate in Education.

This paper seeks to address the issues of supporting the Open University's postgraduate students through networked access to infomlation. The paper positions the Open University, since it is at this point still a unique facility in tenns of size and standing within the UK higher education system, in order to establish the need for quality lnfonnation Services, and for a scaleable model which can be applied to other postgraduate courses. The paper describes the support planned for the forthcoming Doctorate in Education. the importance of a collaborative approach to the delivery of distance education, and the issues surrounding the evolving strategy for networked infonnation provision. 1. Background The Open University (OU) is the UK's largest university in terms of student numbers, with 150,000 students currently registered. It produces 5% of all first degree students in the UK each year, and represents 37% of all part-time higher education students in the UK. Eight subject areas have been recognised as produc­ ing research work of international excellence, with another eleven rated at na­ tional excellence. In 1996 some 17,000 students are required to have computers for their studies of which some l3,000 will have on-line access to the OU's network. Historically the OU Library has not supported the information needs of its students, who have relied on local public libraries and academic libraries to which they may have had access. However, it has always provided subject guides to the literature and other tools, as required, which have been integrated into the course team materials. In addition it has assisted with the development of Library projects undertaken at Summer Schools in host universities, and with supporting literature searching for specific course needs. Support is also given, where possible, to the 6,000 higher degree students. With the development of electronic tools, the Li­ brary's remit has been extended to develop a strategy for supporting students through networked access to information.