Training virtual library network’s staff using the Internet: the experience of the Latin American and the Caribbean Social Science Virtual Library online course

Abstract

What challenges do we envisage when considering the Internet as a platform to deliver training for librarians, editors and Webmasters working in the development of a collaborative virtual library? After some considerations concerning technology‐based distance training developments for librarians, the experience of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences is described where the Internet is used to deliver training to librarians, editors and Webmasters of their member institutes in Latin America and the Caribbean. Choosing a virtual campus platform, building multinational teams for teaching and learning, working on the design of course content and preparing full‐text bibliography, managing the course and evaluating its results have been the main challenges for this experience, which is described to help library networks in developing regions think about the Internet as a possible platform for training staff located in institutions with access to the Internet.