Many colleges that offer online classes also provide online library services for their students. Even in an online program, instructors may expect you to use library resources to complete assignments, projects, or papers for their classes. To be eligible for these library services, you usually are required to be currently enrolled in a class and have a log in and password to access many of the materials on the library web site.
Resources
One frequently used online library service includes access to electronic resources such as databases for full-text articles or ebooks that are available only through paid subscription services. These are sources that are not available through regular internet searches.
- Another frequently used service for distance students is interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan may be available for books or photocopies of journal articles from the library’s own collection. Loaned materials would be mailed to you for a specified loan period along with return postage for you to send them back.
- Some library materials can be digitized for a class, and the library may provide online access to requested audio materials or video segments in the collection.
- A distance education librarian may also provide a tutorial, web guide, or lecture about library research and resources during your online class.
Reserve Materials
In traditional courses, instructors might put specific articles or books on reserve for the class at the library. In online classes, electronic reserves are available through the library for these materials. To find reserve material, you might search by course page, by department, by instructor, or by title or author of the reserve document. Access to faculty reserves is usually restricted to class members.
Citation Styles
If you need help in citing your sources for a paper or project in the correct format, many libraries maintain style guides or links to current citation style guides for the most frequently used Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) formats.
Personal Help
Of particular help to many students in online classes is the library staff member who is designated the distance education librarian. These librarians are often is available by email, chat, or phone to answer questions about research and library materials. Some libraries offer a separate one-credit online course on how to do research in the library from a distance. This type of instructional class can make you aware of the many different types of resources in the library and teach you how to use them efficiently for your own assignments, saving you time and frustration when you need to complete a paper or project.
