Library access/services for distance learning students?

Hi! As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I'm graduating with a BA in Economics in August and moving to Costa Rica. I'm thinking about working on a MBA via distance learning while living there.

In addition to eventually having the credential, one of my main motivations for enrolling in a distance learning program while living in Costa Rica is to keep my access to an academic library. I have a number of current and planned research projects that require this access, which doesn't appear to otherwise be available in Costa Rica.

I'd really appreciate hearing from other distance learning students about their experiences accessing their university's library services. Have you had any problems accessing their research databases remotely? Is it possible for distance learning students to borrow books through the mail? Is this possible internationally or only domestically? (I can get a mail forwarding service in Miami if necessary.) How about access to librarians for research consultations and advice? How does inter-library loan work for distance learning students?

Also, is anyone enrolled at a university that they think has a particularly good library selection, especially in the fields of economics, international business, and international studies?

Thanks!

 

You ask many good questions, only one -- the most overarching and general -- of which I'll address here...


A little known fact about college and university libraries (especially those funded with state and/or federal tax dollars) is that many of them -- who knows... maybe even most -- will allow virtually anyone to use them with the same full rights as any student, faculty or staff member if they'll simply ask (by filling-out a form, showing ID, etc.); and for those that won't do it for free, there is a small fee that the student can pay to get all signed-up and official.

All 12 of the unaccredited, non-ABA-approved distance learning law schools in California (whose J.D. programs qualify one to sit for the bar exam) will, as a matter of course, issue a letter to all of its students (which they can, in turn, show to law school librarians) attesting to the fact that said student is a bona fide law student registered with the California bar and, therefore, should be permitted to use -- either for free, or for a modest fee -- the law library at whatever brick-and-mortar (B&M) law school is nearest their home or office.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks for the tip. I was planning to see if I could get access to the University of Costa Rica's library, unfortunately, I don't expect them to have as many English language materials as I would want to use. Once I am fluent in Spanish I expect them to be very helpful in my Costa Rica related research projects, though.

 

I have found http://www.questia.com/ to be a helpful resource for a small fee.

 

While I realize that this is of little help to Jacqueline, what Gregg stated is true here in Connecticut. You get a library card and use any of the state university libraries just like a public library (which, in fact, they are).
BTW, you can try the Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
and if you go to Marcus Zillmans website
http://www.whitepapers.us
you'll find a link to the Academic and Scholar Search Engines and Sources which gives more specialized access to, well, academic and scholarly information. Some of the search engines are great. Good luck in Costa Rica.
Jack

 

A shame

It is a shame that everyone seems to have a 'workaround' to the problem but no one has found the solution. The solution is quite easily found, simply ask a librarian.

Many states do indeed allow the public to use the materials in the state university libraries. Few however give off campus access to those other than students to fee based databases.

That said many resources are available based upon library cards you already have. Florida, the state in which I live and in which I am currently a librarian, has an electronic library that all library card holders in Florida may use. (www.flelibrary.org) and a service (www.askalibrarian.org) that any library patron may use.

Contractural obligations often preclude university libraries from making electronic journal content available to those off campus and the Florida Electronic Library mentioned above provides an alternative. The databases are supported by Florida taxpayer funds, and require a Florida library card number to access. Most states now have simliar programs so check with your state librarian.

It really is a shame that people don't make their local librarian their first point of contact, or for that matter their school librarian. We know how to connect you and the information you need. Remember librarians do this for a living and we are required to have Masters degrees (from a RA and ALA accredited schools) so please do consult your librarian, we really can help.

 

I agree entirely with mdoneil. Despite all the hype (and outright misinformation) in the popular news media, resources like Questia and Google Scholar are =not= adequate substitutes for actual libraries.

Nearly all state university libraries provide access to both print and online information resources for all walk-in users, and certainly to all those from the local area. Unfortunately, however, license agreements for online resources usually allow off-campus access only to the current students and faculty of the subscribing institution.

 

"It is a shame that everyone seems to have a 'workaround' to the problem but no one has found the solution. The solution is quite easily found, simply ask a librarian."

That solution is only available to people living in the United States. As I said in my original post, I will be living in Costa Rica. That's why I'm asking about people's experiences accessing library materials from the universities they are doing their distance learning programs with, as many of the materials I will need/want will likely not be available from the Costa Rican libraries at all!

 

Perhaps I was not clear in my original post and for that I apologize. Your website says your are a student at Western Washington University. I called and spoke with a librarian there. Alumni have full access to the library and may check out books ( a more liberal policy than my university ). I was also told that you may access their electronic databases from a distance. You may have to call if them if you have a problem. Just have your card, and access them through the university's web site.

Similarly the City of Bellingham has a number of databases, some from the Gale group, Associations Unlimited, e-library, Facts.com ProQuest and many more. The librarian I spoke with asked that you test the ones you feel you may use before you leave the country so they can rectify any problems before you go.

So unless you plan on throwing away your university and home city library cards when you go to you should be fine.

Really, librarians love this sort of thing, we love to connect people with the information you need. If all else fails drop me an email and I will get the information you need to you, as I am certain any librarian would.

 

<i>"Your website says your are a student at Western Washington University. I called and spoke with a librarian there. Alumni have full access to the library and may check out books ( a more liberal policy than my university ). I was also told that you may access their electronic databases from a distance."</i>

OH! Thank you so much!!! It never occured to me that I could still have access to Western's library as an alumni -- at my old school I couldn't even use the library over summer break even when I was returning in the fall!

 

Librarian fan club

Excellent points... and well made, too. People with library science degrees are usually pretty smart cookies; and those who work as librarians tend to be highly resourceful, too... witness:

Yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about!

 

It depends how hard you want to work at it. I'm in a remote rural area. I have borrowing privileges at 8 college and university libraries, including via intercampus loan one of the major research universities (total cost per annum: $55) and access to another major university whose guest borrower cards are priced prohibitively. Even at the latter school librarians have been more than willing to help. If you're willing to work out what you want via online catalogues and make a driving trip to get books and then mail them back (cheaper than gasoline), in *many* areas university library access can be managed at reasonable cost and effort. And Questia is a useful supplement, too.