About the Library

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Research in Distance Education

The Reverend Edward Checkland Collection

One of the purposes of the AU Library collection is to support research in distance education. Athabasca University has one of the finest, if not the most comprehensive collections of materials on the subject of distance education, The Reverend Edward Checkland Collection.

Rev. Checkland was a source of inspiration for Athabasca University through its first ten years. He was an original member of the Athabasca University Governing Authority. He was chair of the Library Committee that recruited the first AU Librarian, Mr. Tom Edge. On June 14, 1980, at the Third Annual Convocation ceremonies, AU Governing Authority recognized the personal commitment of Rev. Checkland to the University by naming the the library's distance education collection The R everend Edward Checkland Collection.

The Checkland Collection includes works on distance education, innovative educational technology, instructional design, and works focussing on the adult learner in the post-secondary system. The Checkland Collection has been listed in the Directory of Special Collections of Research Value.