The Distance Learning Section (DLS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has revised its ACRL Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services. The revised guidelines, which are available online, aim to better provide direction and guidance to academic institutions dealing with the challenges of distance education.

"College and university library practitioners and institutional administrators from around the world are looking to the ACRL guidelines for the development of new and emerging distance learning library services programs and for the assessment of existing one," said Harvey Gover, chair-elect of the Distance Learning Section. "The ACRL Guidelines provide the essential philosophical and practical elements for achieving excellence in the provision of distance learning library services in post secondary education."

Almost 20 years ago, librarians were among the first to predict that the swift advancement of technology would change the face of higher education and recognize the need for developing more easily accessible resources and services. Today, distance education is the fastest growing aspect of higher education.

Gover and DLS Guidelines Committee members will present an introduction to the revised Guidelines on Saturday, June 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the 1999 American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. The complete text of the ACRL Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services and other standards are available at the ACRL Standards and Guidelines Web pages at http://www.ala.org/acrl/guides/index.html or by contacting ACRL at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 2521.

ACRL is a division of the American Library Association.