Libraries and Distance Education - a German View

Abstract

On our way to an information-based society, the volume of data, of information and of knowledge will become ever greater. At the same time a technology is developing which, on the one hand, facilitates data processing but, on the other hand, requires competent handling and efficient management of information and knowledge. The existence of digital, multimedia information resources also support distance education and decentralized learning in our society. The library as a physical location for knowledge and wisdom is becoming increasing replaced by a library of electronic information, multimedia teaching and learning. As a consequence, clients and users must acquire sufficient information literacy and at the same time libraries must become actively involved and provide an appropriate range of services for distance learning. This article reviews the position of libraries and continuing distance education programs especially in Germany. Finally it provides a vision of a successful integration of distance education and library information environment as a qualitatively new form of learning and teaching.