(via John Stawarz, Syracuse University)
I am excited to invite chapter proposals for the forthcoming ACRL book Library Support for Online Degree Programs.
As the needs of fully online students, instructors, and degree programs overlap with their campus-based counterparts, academic libraries have often adapted their traditional resources and services to support online programs. These same libraries, however, have often overlooked the unique challenges and opportunities presented by fully online degree programs, including students who never step foot into library spaces, an often-revolving group of adjunct instructors unfamiliar with library resources and services, and complicated partnerships with third-party program managers and platforms.
This volume, edited by John Stawarz, online learning librarian at Syracuse University Libraries, will provide tested, real-world guidance to academic libraries through case studies from a wide variety of higher-ed contexts, offering what libraries and library professionals have learned from supporting online students and degree programs. The book aims to include a variety of approaches, experiences, or frameworks for library support for fully online students and degree programs from a wide variety of contexts, such as undergraduate and graduate online degree programs, for-profit institutions, unusual degree offerings (such as online JD programs), and international contexts.
Ultimately, chapters should focus on how sustainable partnerships and collaborations between libraries and instructors, students, course developers, and administrators of online programs have improved the learning experiences for these online stakeholders. Topics could include, but are certainly not limited to, the following.
- Creating new library positions such as “online learning librarian” to liaise with and support online programs
- Providing library support to international online programs, and overcoming challenges such as content-limiting firewalls in certain countries
- Shifting collection development strategies to offer online resources such as ebooks and other resources
- Supporting online or distance students through interlibrary loan services, including delivering physical items such as books
- Advocating for online students and programs within the library and institution
- Collaborating with and supporting online instructional designers, faculty members, and administration
- Building community and rapport with online students
Chapter Proposals
To submit a chapter proposal, please send the following information to John Stawarz (jdstawar@syr.edu) by Wednesday, October 15, at 10:59 PM CDT:
- Author name(s), job title(s), email(s), and institutional affiliation(s)
- Proposed chapter title
- Chapter abstract up to 500 words
- Publication links or samples (optional)
Proposed Timeline
- October 15, 2025: Chapter proposal due
- November 15, 2025: Authors notified of acceptance of chapter proposals
- July 15, 2026: Chapter drafts due
- October 15, 2026: Chapter drafts returned to authors for revisions
- February 15, 2027: Final chapters due