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Distance learning can be defined, in the most general terms, as a method of education that involves an instructor and student(s), who are separated geographically and must rely on one or more methods of long‐distance communication. It is the direct descendant of correspondence and home study courses, that were developed in the nineteenth century. What is new, however, is the wealth of telecommunications and telematics options available today that enable the provision of this high‐tech educational environment and the enlargement of the potential user base. Libraries have a central role in education, learning, and vocational training in support of increasing knowledge. The rapid evolution of information and communication technology in the learning field imposes, supports and stimulates the re‐engineering of the library. This paper provides a description of a new distance learning scenario in a library service.

In this work are described some concepts concerning the creation of a library’s unified network and its unified information system, based on innovative technologies for the distribution of the largest number of advanced services to an increasing number of users. Initially, we explain the functions which characterise a unified network, describing the different levels of interoperability and application cooperation services needed to realize the library’s unified information system. The basic elements of the network architecture have been considered from the functional point of view, taking them from the distribution system’s architectures. At the end, some of the advanced systems to be used through the library’s unified network are exposed and discussed; among them, the information filtering system, the digital library, and the distance learning and educational services.

The purpose of this paper is to show the validity of the advanced technologies of computer science and propose the outline of a technological infrastructure to promote, develop, and exploit cultural tourism, taking the territory of Latin Latium as a local system.

Semantic web technologies offering intelligent integration of information about the region and heritage of Latin Latium are used. The information includes all kinds of cultural heritage, from bibliographic items to industrial assets, or prehistoric excavations in this region. A cultural heritage ontology has to be designed, constructed, fed, and exploited in order to achieve this aim. A methodology for the ontology population and exploitation for other regions of Italy or even outside Italy is proposed. The network of skills and knowledge thus created, provides features of interest for other types of users, such as experts, scholars, and students, in addition to acting on the cultural tourism market.

Currently in the prototype phase, the information technology infrastructure is an added value for cultural tourism information, since it has an ontology on resources pertaining to cultural assets. This makes it possible to develop applications with specific functions for the tourist, such as the construction of “cultural paths” and the production of cultural information in addition to the global positioning system path points. The application integrated within a web site (www.laziolatino.it/) will also be used with mobile devices as 3G cell phones and handsets.

This is a research in progress and the intention is to validate this idea in the near future through rigorous research initiatives.

The proposed outline of the infrastructure is a first step towards developing platforms and products whose spread will make it possible to turn to account and promote those territorial areas that, although at the margins of tourism circuits, have a strong cultural identity.