The University of Queensland Cybrary: A Virtual Library in a Wired University

Abstract

Students discover short cuts to scholarship Any place….. Any space….. At any pace….. At any time The University of Queensland Cybrary – Australia’s first – makes travel to a new world of knowledge easy. Students can plan their route and take advantage of short cuts, or if they prefer, take a leisurely meander and discover exciting new places off the beaten track. The Cybrary integrates state-of-the-art information technology with traditional services to create a “virtual library” in a “wired university.” From any of hundreds of high-end Pentium computers within the Library, and day or night from home or office, students can explore or target the world of information as they wish. The Cybrary pushes out the boundaries of information gathering and gives students new scope for synthesizing and processing the material they discover. The Cybrary is an indispensable, integrated approach to meet the information demands of lifelong learning and problem-based teaching. It is a powerful support for flexible learning and an enhancement to flexible teaching. The Library has taken a leadership role in applying this innovative approach to addressing the real needs of students in the 21st Century, and is working collaboratively with students and teachers to develop and refine the Cybrary as new possibilities open.