Accessibility of library resources and support services by distance learners

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the accessibility of library resources and support services by distance learners at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The study utilized a survey approach in soliciting information from distance learners. A total of 33 learners from OUT responded to the survey. The study revealed that OUT offered several library services as well as library resources to distance learners. The resources identified as accessible to distance learners were books, journals, internet services, past examination papers, dissertations and theses, research guides, computers, and electronic resources. The study found out that there were challenges that hindered effective use of the library resources and services including high data cost, information overload, inadequate skills to evaluate information sources, password and login frustrations, lack of comprehensive online tutorials from OUT library, lack of information search skills, lack of distance librarian assigned to support remote students, lack of free, full text, lack of instructional resources and lack of university’s account to access digital library resources from home. The study, therefore, put up recommendations to increase resource and service accessibility at OUT library.