Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

Prudtikul, Somsuang. “Library Services for Distance Students at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.” In [Proceedings of the] ICDE Librarians’ Roundtable, 11-12 October, 1999, The Open University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Open University of Hong Kong, 1999, 59-62. ERIC ED 438 832. Also online. Available: http://www.ouhk.edu.hk/10th/roundtable/stou.pdf (in pdf format)
Library and information services are organized into three levels of service in support of distance learning programs at the Sukhotha Thammathirat Open University (STOU) in Thailand. The central services, offered at the Academic Building in Nonthaburi, provide a full range of library services to STOU faculty and staff, researchers, and the general public. Graduate students at a distance can get research assistance and photocopies of library materials from the central service for a fee. At the regional level, library materials and services are offered either through the ten Academic and Development Services Centers throughout the country, or the six Graduate Educational Resource Centers. Finally, at the provincial level, there are STOU Corners located in 75 provincial public libraries, which act as repository and services centers for STOU undergraduates and the general public. Currently, electronic library services are only available to staff at the central service, but there are plans to extend the library network to the ten Academic and Development Services Centers within a few years. S. Tschabrun.

Sacchanand, Chutima. “Information Literacy Instruction to Distance Students in Higher Education: Librarians’ Key Role.” Paper presented at the 68th IFLA General Conference and Council “Libraries for Life: Democracy, Diversity, Delivery,” August 18th – 24th 2002, Glasgow, Scotland. Online. Available: http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla68/papers/113-098e.pdf (in pdf format)
Distance education has evolved with the advent of technological innovations. The author discusses the needs and challenges facing distance education today and the importance of information literacy, specifically providing a case study on the information literacy initiatives at the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), the largest distance education university in Thailand. Key roles of the academic librarians are described. Information literacy instruction was mainly delivered in print and audio-visual materials comprised of brochures, pamphlets, manuals, videotapes, radio and television programs, and the library website. A library services component was included in the foundation course while subject courses included content related to library research. Information skill instruction was provided during the new student orientation as well as during the professional experience practicum. Information literacy was more prominent at the graduate levels where instructional materials were developed by the librarians and distributed for self-study. At faculty requests, librarians also provided instructional sessions. M. Chakraborty.

Wissawapaisal, Boonta. “Library Services for Distance Education and Open Learning at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.” Paper presented at the AAOU Pre-Conference Seminar on “Outreach Library Services for Distance Learners,” February 20, 2002, New Delhi, India. Online. Available: http://www.ignou.ac.in/aaou-pre/Boonta.htm
The Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) of Thailand is the first distance education institution in Southeast Asia. There are three levels of service for STOU students: central, regional, and provincial. Central services are provided at the main library. Regional services are provided to students and the public at twelve distance education centres throughout the country. Two of these centres are dedicated to graduate level educational resources. Provincial services are offered to STOU students at 81 different outlets (called STOU corners). Provincial services are usually offered through public libraries. Cooperation between libraries and the networking of library material are two other methods STOU uses to provide library services and resources to its students. STOU also extends outreach services to those in the community. Notably, services are provided to prisoners through book donations and a STOU corner in one of the prisons. STOU also offers library training for library personnel in prisons. Through the Knowledge for Kids Project, books are rotated to different primary schools in order to encourage reading. J. Wheeler.