Research note: Research services for distant learners: the OLADE project

The Latin American Energy Organisation is an international agency aimed at promoting the development, conservation and rational use of energy resources in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 1997, the University of Calgary began offering a Masters of Science degree programme in energy and the environment in Quito, Ecuador, to train professionals to assist OLADE with fulfilling its mandate. The University Library believes that distance students should have the same access to electronic databases, research materials and document delivery as on‐campus students. Technology and the Internet have enabled these services for off‐continent distant learners. Through direct Web connections and instruction using innovative CD‐ROM presentations, access to full‐text and index databases, e‐mail, research resources and document delivery requests were effectively provided to the students.