Introduction

An important stage in the design of courses is sourcing for appropriate resources for both learning and teaching. In this process it is necessary for teaching and support staff to work in close collaboration and consultation with one another. This section of Deliberations deals particularly with the relationship between teaching and library support staff.

Librarians are having to cope with changing modes of course delivery, the move to electronic sources of information, the integration of library and computing facilities and the problem of training library users how to access the new forms of information which are available to them - as well as the old. As a consequence learning resource centres are now an integral part of libraries in higher education.

Resource Materials

• Can we assess user education in the library; and if so, how?
  Clive Wilson, Thames Valley University, UK (1997)
  Discusses the question of user education and how best to achieve this.
• Linking Course Provision to Resources
  Provides three models of the working relationship between teaching and librarian staff. Invites you to offer your contributions.
• Improving the quality of the learning environment: achieving a better partnership between academic staff and learning support staff in course delivery.
  Andrew McDonald, Director of Information Services, University of Sunderland, UK
  Lorraine Hall, Site Librarian, St Peter's Library, University of Sunderland, UK (1996)
  A virtual workshop designed to stimulate discussion amongst academic staff about how they can achieve the necessary collaboration with learning support staff.
• External Links

Readers' Comments: A lively and continuous process of debate on learning and teaching in higher education is a key aim of Deliberations. We invite you to share your thoughts on this topic with other readers.