Educação a distância, bibliotecas polo e o acesso informacional : um estudo de caso

Abstract

The research deals with the theme Distance Education, Libraries and Information Resources available to students of DL. It makes an approach to distance education, the development of this type of education and its social contribution to reach the most remote places of the country. The institution researched is the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and is the focus are Libraries of DL, where the institution offers undergraduate distance education and the focus Access to Information Resources for users of DL. The purpose of the research and verify that the libraries of the poles serve their students and in providing access to scientific information’s necessary activities of teaching, research and extension. The research is exploratory and qualitative and quantitative approach. The first part of this study is also characterized as action research and its results have been presented to the institution. One of the characteristics of this type of research is that it seeks to play through it in practice so innovative as during the research process itself (Engel, 2000, p. 182). As a methodological research procedure consists of two steps: The first conducts research on the spot in libraries in order to verify: the informational resources that students have at their disposal compared to the basic bibliography of courses. The second step was to analyze the views of users of this distance mode. And it was a “study of users” to know their opinion. So you could have the clarity of the information needs of these users. The research involved an online questionnaire via Qualtric’s software. Guinchat and Menou (1994) consider the users as an essential factor of any information system. The first step can be concluded with a view on the analysis and observation that the bibliography at the poles compared to basic bibliography of the courses that they do not meet the required demands of users and the ideal of a library. And according to an analysis of the issues of the “study of users”, says 43% of respondents do not use the library, and one of the reasons not to use are: “Do not have the books I need” or “missing stuff”. Yet 57% of respondents said they use the library polo. So in addition to assessing, planning is necessary as cites theorist’s area. So it can be concluded that each of the agencies involved, municipalities, states and HEIs need to work creating policies and guidelines for the advancement of distance education and benefit of the society that uses it. And to do so in order to provide the access to this information, knowledge and education, (in) forming a society more humane, more educated, and consequently a society with more knowledge.