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The Rice Thresher
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by Lindsey Gilbert For the Thresher Course readings have become more attainable this semester thanks to Fondren Library's Electronic Reserves Project. An increasing number of professors have enabled electronic access to reserved course materials, allowing students to view articles, manuscripts and problem set solutions from any computer with Internet access. The project is part of the library's ongoing effort to expand its online resources. "We started looking at [the project] about five or six years ago, when the Internet really took off," Fondren Library Director Sara Lowman said. "We looked at ways we could allow students to use library materials from the colleges or off campus." In order to access the online articles, users must connect to Fondren's WebCat Online Catalog, available through the library's Web site. Using a course-specific password, students may view only those reserve materials designated by their professor for electronic access. Materials are limited according to professor preference and copyright permission. Library staff first began scanning and digitizing selected reserve materials in 1999 as part of an experimental pilot program. Since then, Reserves Coordinator Sarah Bentley has seen a notable expansion in the Project's electronic repertoire. "The first two years we had mostly solution sets," Bentley said. "This year we've had a lot of journal articles, book chapters and reading packets." According to Bentley, faculty awareness of the project is also on the rise. This year, seven or eight professors have already enabled electronic access to their reserve materials. Bentley said it takes about three to five business days for the library to make a professor's reserve reading available on the Internet. Several more professors have expressed interest in the service, and Bentley predicts over 250 of the library's 1,200 reserve items will be available in PDF format by the end of the semester. Both professors and students praised the electronic access for its convenience, which some have taken advantage of for years. Computer Science Professor Keith Cooper said he has been posting class notes on his course Web site since 1989 and has since added problem sets and required readings. "I provide electronic access for a lot of materials through my own Web site," Cooper said. "The students seem to prefer downloading PDF files off the Web to walking to the library and Xeroxing." Hanszen College senior Carson Lyon agrees. "I think [electronic access] is a lot better than waiting for someone else to finish the book before you can get it," Lyon said. "I think it's a good idea."
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This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu |
