Ärztliche Zentralbibliothek – Mitgestalterin einer elektronischen Lernumgebung am Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf / Central Medical Library (Ärztliche Zentralbibliothek) – participating in the development of an e-learning environment at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf

Abstract

The development of e-learning has brought new tasks to libraries as a providers of information services. The Central Medical Library (ÄZB) has played an active part in the development of the concept for an e-learning platform at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) since 2006. The responsibilities of the ÄZB within the faculty's e-learning project are: to ensure the compliance with standards, to integrate recent developments, to provide first level support to users and creators of e-learning modules. The ÄZB developed a modular concept for training and assisting teachers in the creation of e-learning modules as well as on the spot hotline support. This article presents the e-learning platform „Mephisto" at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf including the services provided by the Central Medical Library (ÄZB). E-learning systems are primarily seen as teaching aids but they can also be turned into useful instruments for the daily work of a library. The ÄZB developed its own e-learning module in order to enhance the internal flow of information and the structured provision of materials. By using these modules, staff come in contact with new web-based technologies and their enhanced understanding will also improve the support of users. After the test phase the concept developed by the ÄZB could be used as a template for Medical Centre wide applications on the departmental or institute level.

Keywords

• academic library
• e-learning
• services
• communication tools