Webinar on May 24: “The Importance of Mapping to the ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Library Services”

Do you use the ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Library Services? They may not be considered a trendy topic, but they certainly have concrete applications and benefits of use. Mapping your library services to the Standards can help you increase your understanding of the services you offer, identify any weak points, assist in communicating with stakeholders, and create a strategic plan for meeting the needs of distance learners at your institution. In 2014, Natalie Bennett completed an environmental scan of UTC (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) and its peer institutions’ distance learning library services. Now, three years later, Natalie is returning to that same study to see how things have changed at those institutions. Using criteria points derived from the ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Library Services, the survey examines 18 universities

websites. During this webinar, Natalie plans to share the results of this survey, and more importantly, discuss the implications and importance of using the Standards to examine an academic library’s services for distance learners. Participants of this webinar will leave with a template for charting their own services to the Standards.

Natalie Bennett
University of Tennessee: Chattanooga

Natalie Bennett received both a B.A. in Theatre and an Master’s of Library Science from the University at Buffalo (SUNY). She joined UTC in 2014 as the Online Services Librarian, where she implements and promotes innovative online tools and services for both off-campus and on-campus learners. She is also a member of the library instruction team and teaches many classes face-to-face. Natalie’s research interests include information literacy, online learning, user experience, and assessment of instruction