One idea I came up with includes trying to implement some sort of distance learning loan scheme. When I studied via distance learning with Aberystwyth University, I made extensive use of a similar service. Not only did this include books, but there was also a Document Supply Service, where for a small fee the library would photocopy and post out journal articles or short extracts of books (http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/help/distancelearners/). I’m not sure however how feasible this would be (in terms of staff time) and whether we have a sufficient budget to warrant buying books that would exclusively belong to a distance learning collection. There are also Copyright implications of a Document Supply Service as well. In some respects, this is why purchasing eBooks may be the way to go; not only would these students in the Isle of Wight be able to use them, but so too would our students here in Falmouth.
Here at the College we use Moodle, and another idea I came up with was perhaps trying to create a subject guide for these students that they could access through Moodle. This might also help to point them in the direction of useful resources/websites that might help them in their studies. Although subject guides seem to be standard documents that libraries now produce (just look at any university library webpage), to my knowledge, nothing has been created for these particular students, or their course. This is therefore definitely something to work on, as is doing a bit more research into eBooks.