Off the Shelf, August 11, 2008
I am writing my column this week with three students bent over examination papers behind me. As distance education becomes more and more popular, the requests for exam invigilation are coming with a frequency I would never have thought possible outside of an academic setting. Public libraries are a traditional location for invigilating, or proctoring, exams. However, in my previous 17 years in libraries I have invigilated perhaps 3 or 4 per year. This year, so far, I’ve monitored 23 exams, and the other librarians at WPL have invigilated a few apiece as well.
I don’t think this surge in requests is solely due to the increase in distance education programs, though I’m sure that’s part of it. The other big factor is the demographic of Whistler, especially the large number of university-age people who come here for a season or a year or two. We live in an increasingly mobile world; people are far less likely to live in one place or work at the same job for their entire lives. I am a case in point: as part of my application for permanent residence in Canada, I had to list every place I’ve lived and every job I’ve held since I was 18. It turned out to be a very long list, two pages long. I’ve had two careers (with a break as a ski bum in between) and lived in 3 countries so far.
I even have personal experience with a distance program: I got my Master’s Degree in Library Science through one of the very first in the world, starting in 1994. Of course, I’m making a distinction between correspondence courses, which have a very long history, and true “distance” education. My library degree was earned via videotaped lectures sent through the mail and a listserv for class discussion. The good thing about it for me was that I was forced to learn how to use electronic communications in order to complete my coursework (remember when 9600 bps was lightning speed?). Today it’s a whole different ballgame with webcasts, videoconferencing, interactive online activities and exams, etc. In some ways I envy the distance students of the 21st century. Who knows, maybe I’ll go back to school yet again.
As a member of the Education Task Force for Whistler 2020, I have always advocated the role of the library in the educational matrix of the municipality, but the demand continues to astound me. I have three more exams later this week, and more scheduled for later. It’s a constant stream, and I feel privileged to assist these students with their education. I even get a couple of hours without phones ringing and constant interruptions in the bargain!
Lauren Stara, Library Director
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