Applying innovative technology to the needs of the distant learner

Academia is changing rapidly; the concept of attaining a college degree now encompasses not only the traditional ideas of attending classes on‐site at campuses but also through state‐of‐the‐art methods that deliver telecourses, now referred to as distance education. Distance education has opened the door of opportunity to a population of potential students who, not so long ago, felt a college degree was an impossible endeavor because of geographic location or personal restrictions. This boon to the students has posed a new set of challenges for libraries in providing academic support for the students engaged in distance learning. The Eastern Oregon Information Network (EOIN) was developed to provide dial‐in, remote access to CD‐ROM indexes, an interlibrary loan module, and an electronic mail system, which bridges the critical gap for the off‐campus student.