Research note: Research services for distant learners: the OLADE project

The Latin American Energy Organisation is an international agency aimed at promoting the development, conservation and rational use of energy resource s in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 1997, the University of Calgary be gan offering a Masters of Science degree programme in energy and the enviro nment in Quito, Ecuador, to train professionals to assist OLADE with fulfil ling its mandate. The University Library believes that distance students sh ould have the same access to electronic databases, research materials and d ocument delivery as on-campus students. Technology and the Internet have en abled these services for off-continent distant learners. Through direct Web connections and instruction using innovative CD-ROM presentations, access to full-text and index databases, e-mail, research resources and document d elivery requests were effectively provided to the students.