| This study examined the use of the Standards for Community, Junior, and Technical College Learning Resource Programs (1994) by 136 randomly selected directors of learning resource programs (LRP). Categories of two-year colleges were rural (less than 1,000 FTE, 1,000–2,500 FTE, and more than 2,500 FTE), suburban (single and multi campus) and urban (single and multi campus). Responding on a Likert scale, LRP directors indicated the level of their use of the Standards. Respondents indicated on a checklist those services in addition to regular LRP services in use or planned in their learning resource programs.; Analysis of variance and t-tests were utilized for the data analysis. No significant differences were found among rural two-year college LRPs in their uses of the Standards. Significant differences were found on several questions dealing with staff training and equity with other college staff among rural and suburban campuses. One question dealing with shelving of LRP materials produced a significant difference between rural and urban campuses. The same questions produced significant differences between urban single and multi campus institutions. Themes from written comments were categorized and analyzed.; Four services were offered at an overwhelming number of campuses: bibliographic instruction, internet courses, telecourse administration, and faculty development. Fewer campuses offered satellite uplinks, community services, or distance learning facilities. The data suggested that rural campuses offered more services than did suburban or urban LRPs. Rural LRP directors indicated more frequently than directors of other types of LRPs that more services were planned in the next two years.; The differences found in this study among the sizes and types of two-year college learning resource programs support the idea that compliance with the national standards is an individual, local decision, often based on staffing and budget considerations. The governance and missions of different types of two year colleges were reflected in the services their LRPs offered. |
