Telework and the Academic Librarian

Abstract

College and university faculty and students prefer the convenience of anytime, anyplace access to scholarly materials when conducting research and completing assignments. Distance education programs are common whether the students are across town or across the continent. Faculty researchers collaborate with their peers nationally and internationally by utilizing virtual technologies. Academic libraries have been quick to integrate electronic and digital technology into their operating environment by investing heavily in the purchase and creation of digital collections as well as the purchase of the hardware and software to deliver content to these virtual scholarly communities. Librarians have adapted to working virtually. This article explores freeing librarians from the physical boundaries of the library, allowing them to provide virtual reference services by telecommuting.