Many African universities have employed distance education to expand access to education and digital libraries can ensure seamless access to information for distance learners. The purpose of this study was to investigate the availability of policies and strategic initiatives for developing digital library services in distance education at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana. The study relies on the results of semi-structured interviews with selected librarians of the University, and institutional document analysis. The study found that digital library use in distance education at the University is seriously hampered due to the absence of strategic support, consistent policies and dedicated funding for digital library initiatives.

Both e-learning and digital libraries are gradually converging to transform the learning environment in many universities. This trend, which is widespread in globally is gradually gaining momentum in sub-Saharan countries such as Kenya. E-learning is recognised as the ultimate convergence of learning and the internet approach to building the knowledge and skills of learners through web enabled technologies. On the other hand, digital libraries provide technologybased information services and organized collection of knowledge which is accessible to users via digital or electronic interface technologies to support the learning process. With the emergence of e-learning as a novel avenue to provide course content, digital libraries are viewed as appropriate means to provide the supporting learning information services. This paper discusses the potential complementary interaction between digital library and e-learning environments to create more productive experiences for the learners. The paper also explores strategic and technological issues involved in creating systems that facilitate high level and effective interaction between future e-learning environment and digital library world.

Purpose – This paper aims to examine and discuss the crucial roles libraries play in e‐learning; the challenges and opportunities facing the e‐learning program and the library's involvement. Design/methodology/approach – To elicit the necessary information, a literature review of studies done on e‐learning and libraries was done. Materials were sourced online and offline to build the literature of this work. The paper gives an overview of e‐learning and types; benefits of e‐learning; the infancy stage of e‐learning, libraries, and e‐learning technologies; starting points for libraries and e‐learning and challenges facing e‐learning. Findings – A lot of challenges are facing the successful implementation of e‐learning in institutions and also the role of libraries in enhancing e‐learning needs a lot of issues to be addressed as library's involvement in e‐learning is found to be very crucial. Practical implications – This paper establishes that libraries are the heart of institutions and so, are meant to play a vital role in the learning activities, as well as support all kinds of learning which includes e‐learning. There is also need for librarians to be trained in adopting e‐learning technologies and collaborating with faculties and departments in tutoring the learners. Originality/value – The study possesses two characteristics that make it different from other studies in the related area. First of all, it provides a theoretical basis for librarians to be actively involved in e‐learning as it listed some responsibilities of the library and librarians in executing e‐learning programmes. Secondly, the paper proposes six laws (Sm2U2L) to govern e‐learning and libraries.

The paper traces the participants of the Learning and Teaching in the Digital World (LATINA) Course who were drawn from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in the period 2009-2013. Digital technology is transforming learning and teaching in higher education. This in turn has led to profound changes in the tasks and duties of library and information professionals. Digital learning is mainly based on web resources and student projects. Librarians need to keep abreast with the new digital technologies in order to meet the ever changing information user needs of the library users and remain relevant in an information explosion era. In an effort to empower librarians to be able to play their information literacy instruction role, Makerere University Library (Maklib) annually conducts the LATINA course. Librarians who undertake this course are envisioned to become digital literate. Using an online questionnaire, data was collected and analysed. Findings revealed that the LATINA course has been instrumental in building capacity in digital librarianship as 100% of the respondents confirmed that the LATINA course was relevant. Skills acquired by librarians have been applied in library activities and Information Literacy (IL) programmes. The study revealed that some of librarians who attended LATINA course have become innovative hence improving service delivery. Participants were happy with the skills and knowledge they obtained from the LATINA curriculum. The results also revealed that experiential learning remains critical in LIS-related jobs. The study, therefore, concluded that librarians need to continuously update their skills to adequately support IL programmes.

The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) in India is an illustrative project based on the concept of multimedia based courses with high potential for interactivity. It has become a popular and viable option for both developed and developing nations, though for different reasons. Offering multimedia courses in technology-assisted modes has not only become invaluable for the learner, but also an attractive and creative option for faculty. The broad aim of the project NPTEL in India is to facilitate the competitiveness of Indian industry in global markets through improving the quality and reach of engineering education. The operational objective of NPTEL is to make high quality learning material available to students of engineering institutions across the country by exploiting the advances in information and communication technology. The present paper presents a prospect for such an initiative for African countries and institutions (as potential Associate Partner Institutions) to enhance the quality of human resources in technology and in the arena of the digital library itself.