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Educational services in health sciences libraries: an analysis of the periodical literature, 1975-1986.

The periodical literature on group instructional services in health sciences libraries was analyzed to determine the nature of these services, their target audiences, and their institutional settings. Three kinds of reports were identified: descriptions of services (70%), reviews of the literature (10.5%), and future-oriented articles that advocate various group instructional services (19.5%). Five target audiences were identified: library users, staff, librarian peers, library science students, and patients. Instructional services were offered primarily in medical school/center libraries, hospital libraries, and the National Library of Medicine and its Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs). To a lesser extent, health sciences educational services are offered through other professional school libraries, library associations and consortia, and schools of library science. There are gaps in the literature in the areas of library experience with marketing, evaluation, administration of the offered educational services, and continuing education for health sciences librarians.

Education↗

New library buildings. Part VII. The Health Sciences Library of the University of Virginia.

This article describes the new Health Sciences Library at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. The library was under construction for about two years and opened in August 1975. It comprises an area of 66,250 sq. ft. gross, almost 44,000 sq. ft. net, and provides space for approximately 190,000 volumes, 500 readers, and a staff of 35. The cost of construction was $2,350,000, plus approximately $400,000 for furnishings and equipment. A portion of the library is located on a bridge spanning a four-lane highway. Special features include a 6,000 net sq. ft. audiovisual information center, Elecompack (TM) motorized shelves for little-used materials, and a closed-circuit television surveillance system.

Facility Design and Construction↗

Digital reference service: trends in academic health science libraries.

Two years after the initial 2002 study, a greater number of academic health science libraries are offering digital reference chat services, and this number appears poised to grow in the coming years. This 2004 follow-up study found that 36 (27%) of the academic health science libraries examined provide digital chat reference services; this was an approximately 6% increase over the 25 libraries (21%) located in 2002. Trends in digital reference services in academic health science libraries were derived from the exploration of academic health science library Web sites and from digital correspondence with academic health science library personnel using e-mail and chat. This article presents an overview of the current state of digital reference service in academic health science libraries.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Effect of Federal programs on health sciences libraries.

The radical changes and improvements in health sciences libraries during the last quarter century have been primarily achieved through the leadership of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the application of technology and in the creation of a biomedical communications network. This article describes principal programs and activities of the National Library of Medicine and their effects on health sciences libraries: the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS), implementation of the Medical Library Assistance Act (MLAA), and defense of "fair use" of copyrighted material. The article briefly summarizes more recent Federal activities which directly affect access to and dissemination of health information and concludes with a summary of problems for which solutions must be found if health sciences libraries are to be prepared to meet the future. It is clear from comparing the programs described with current government attitudes that, although the Federal government has promoted advancement in the dissemination of biomedical information in the past, this trend is reversing, and Federal funding to libraries is decreasing while the cost of accessing information is increasing.

Forecasting↗

Appraisal and evaluation of the workshop instruction program for untrained health sciences library managers in Region VIII: 1976-1978.

A study was conducted to determine whether the basic skills workshop offered by the Midcontinental Regional Medical Library Program from 1976 through 1978 should be revised. Results indicated that a majority of workshop participants were library managers in hospitals with under 200 beds. Workshop attendance was most helpful in libraries where new services were initiated after the workshop, although existing services (particularly interlibrary loan) were noticeably improved. Cataloging was considered to be the most useful workshop topic by former participants. Increased emphasis on administrative functions and on the provision of reference services was recommended.

Libraries, Hospital↗

The impact of economic issues on Nigerian health sciences libraries.

Economic issues are among the most important factors affecting health sciences libraries in Nigeria. These issues are influenced by the political, cultural, geographic, and demographic characteristics of the country. Significant economic issues are the dependence of the national economy on a single commodity, large foreign debt and spiraling inflation, stringent foreign exchange control measures, and inadequate realization by authorities of the role and importance of health sciences libraries. With shrinking budgets, resources, and staff, health sciences libraries can neither grow nor afford library automation. Health sciences librarians must take initiatives for cooperative activities to increase and make the most of resources, pursue nontraditional methods of fund-raising, educate authorities about the role and importance of libraries, and develop and implement a plan for the development and growth of health sciences libraries in the country.

Financing, Government↗

Academic health sciences libraries, then and now.

We have made no attempt to compare academic health science libraries along other criteria. Collections and services are not always congruent with budgets; nor do we imply that bigger is better. It is much more expensive to operate a library today than in 1962. In addition, building backfiles is not usually required for a library that has been collecting, even modestly, for fifty to one hundred years. In summary, the eastern seaboard health science libraries generally declined in rank, whereas those in the midwest, southwest, and west either remained in rank order or increased in rank. Exceptions are in North and South Carolina. Although this socioeconomic shift is interesting, the more relevant finding is the narrowing range. In 1962 the median health science library budget was one-sixth as large as that of top-ranked UC-SF. Whereas UC-SF's budget has shown a six-fold increase over twenty years, the median library's budget has shown a twelve-fold increase. The gap between the annual budgets of the top-ranked schools and those in the bottom half of the range remains substantial but is apparently closing. It is anticipated that during the next two decades relatively few dollars will separate the annual budgets of the top ten or twenty academic health science libraries from those at the other end of the spectrum.

Budgets↗

Present at the creation: the founding and formative years of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries.

The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) was founded in 1978 with the goal of strengthening academic health sciences libraries and increasing their participation nationally in efforts to improve medical education. A primary objective of the organization was to achieve a formal relationship with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) through membership in the Council of Academic Societies (CAS). Initial steps in establishing AAHSL are examined, including its efforts to join CAS. The author pays tribute to AAHSL's founders, in particular Gerald Oppenheimer, without whose vision and leadership AAHSL would not have been formed.

History, 20th Century↗

Collection development and outsourcing in academic health sciences libraries: a survey of current practices.

Academic health sciences libraries in the United States and Canada were surveyed regarding collection development trends, including their effect on approval plan and blanket order use, and use of outsourcing over the past four years. Results of the survey indicate that serials market forces, budgetary constraints, and growth in electronic resources purchasing have resulted in a decline in the acquisition of print items. As a result, approval plan use is being curtailed in many academic health sciences libraries. Although use of blanket orders is more stable, fewer than one-third of academic health sciences libraries report using them currently. The decline of print collections suggests that libraries should explore cooperative collection development of print materials to ensure access and preservation. The decline of approval plan use and the need for cooperative collection development may require additional effort for sound collection development. Libraries were also surveyed about their use of outsourcing. Some libraries reported outsourcing cataloging and shelf preparation of books, but none reported using outsourcing for resource selection. The reason given most often for outsourcing was that it resulted in cost savings. As expected, economic factors are driving both collection development and outsourcing practices.

Budgets↗

Evaluating overall usage of a digital health sciences library.

BACKGROUND: Digital health sciences library (DHSL) evaluation involves studying the usage of the DHSL by individuals as well as populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in overall usage of a DHSL as part of a process of continuous quality improvement in order to learn how to enhance a DHSL in order to meet its users' needs better. METHODS: Web server log file analysis was performed on a prototype DHSL, the Virtual Hospital, using two log file analysis programs on data from the month of February over four consecutive years, 1995 to 1998. RESULTS: Overall DHSL usage increased between 1995 and 1997 and leveled off in 1998. Fifteen percent of usage came from countries outside the United States. A broad spectrum of medical information for health care providers and patients was accessed and centered around specialty medical information. CONCLUSIONS: To be of optimal assistance to users, DHSLs should (1) contain a broad base of information on common and uncommon medical problems, (2) accommodate the needs of the significant percentage of users that are international through content translation and mirroring, and (3) ensure they are indexed and catalogued in the major Web search engines and Web general and medical indices so they can be easily found by users.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

A checklist for planning and designing audiovisual facilities in health sciences libraries.

Developed by an MLA/HeSCA (Health Sciences Communications Association) joint committee, this checklist is intended to serve as a conceptual framework for planning a new or renovated audiovisual facility in a health sciences library. Emphasis is placed on the philosophical and organizational decisions that must be made about an audiovisual facility before the technical or spatial decisions can be wisely made. Specific standards for facilities or equipment are not included. The first section focuses on health sciences library settings. Ideas presented in the remaining sections could apply to academic learning resource center environments as well. A bibliography relating to all aspects of audiovisual facilities planning and design is included with references to specific sections of the checklist.

Audiovisual Aids↗

An investigation of the educational needs of health sciences library manpower. II. Health-related institutions and their library resources.

As part of an investigation of health sciences library manpower, the universe of health-related institutions and programs (excluding hospitals) was surveyed by postcard questionnaire to produce an inventory and description of libraries providing services to these institutions and programs. Seventysix percent (5,215) of the institutions reported access to library resources, indicating usage of some 2,207 non-hospital libraries. Eighty percent (2,431) of the institutions reported that the library used was "within" their own institution; 20 percent (608) noted that the library was "outside" of their institution. The distribution of health-related institutions and libraries is shown by RML districts, together with relevant census data. A classification of libraries, based on the degree of involvement of the libraries' facilities, resources and personnel in supplying services to health-related institutions, was developed. It is concluded that projections of manpower needs should take into account institutions and programs not at present possessing health sciences libraries as well as documented demand in existing health sciences libraries.

Health Occupations↗

The comparative importance of books: clinical psychology in the health sciences library.

Clinical psychology has received little attention as a subject in health sciences library collections. This study seeks to demonstrate the relative importance of the monographic literature to clinical psychology through the examination of citations in graduate student theses and dissertations at the Fordham Health Sciences Library, Wright State University. Dissertations and theses were sampled randomly; citations were classified by format, counted, and subjected to statistical analysis. Books and book chapters together account for 35% of the citations in clinical psychology dissertations, 25% in nursing theses, and 8% in biomedical sciences theses and dissertations. Analysis of variance indicates that the citations in dissertations and theses in the three areas differ significantly (F = 162.2 with 2 and 253 degrees of freedom, P = 0.0001). Dissertations and theses in biomedical sciences and nursing theses both cite significantly more journals per book than the dissertations in clinical psychology. These results support the hypothesis that users of clinical psychology literature rely more heavily on books than many other users of a health sciences library. Problems with using citation analyses in a single subject to determine a serials to monographs ratio for a health sciences library are pointed out.

Academic Dissertations as Topic↗

Standards for vision science libraries. The Association of Vision Science Librarians.

The minimum levels of staffing, services, budget, and technology that should be provided by a library specializing in vision science are presented. The scope and coverage of the collection is described as well. These standards may be used by institutions establishing libraries or by accrediting bodies reviewing existing libraries.

Libraries, Medical↗

Providing health information to the general public: a survey of current practices in academic health sciences libraries.

A questionnaire was mailed to 148 publicly and privately supported academic health sciences libraries affiliated with Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC-accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada to determine level of access and services provided to the general public. For purposes of this study, "general public" was defined as nonaffiliated students or health care professionals, attorneys and other nonhealth-related professionals, patients from affiliated or other hospitals or clinics, and general consumers. One hundred five (71%) libraries responded. Results showed 98% of publicly supported libraries and 88% of privately supported libraries provided access to some or all of the general public. Publicly supported libraries saw greater numbers of public patrons, often provided more services, and were more likely to circulate materials from their collections than were privately supported libraries. A significant number of academic health sciences libraries housed a collection of consumer-oriented materials and many provided some level of document delivery service, usually for a fee. Most allowed the public to use some or all library computers. Results of this study indicated that academic health sciences libraries played a significant role in serving the information-seeking public and suggested a need to develop written policies or guidelines covering the services that will be provided to minimize the impact of this service on primary clientele.

Community Participation↗

Development of criteria and procedures for appointment, promotion, and tenure of library faculty in an academic health sciences library.

A subcommittee of the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee was appointed to develop a document establishing procedures and criteria for the appointment, promotion, and tenure of library faculty at the Library of the Health Sciences, University of Illinois. The subcommittee analyzed the library's objectives within the academic setting and developed guidelines to enhance individual and organizational contributions. Early and regular evaluation of library faculty was emphasized. Skills required to implement library participation and support of education, research, and public service programs were categorized. A mechanism for review and amendment of the document has been established.

Faculty↗

The book availability study as an objective measure of performance in a health sciences library.

In its search for an objective overall diagnostic evaluation, the University of Illinois Library of the Health Sciences' Program Evaluation Committee selected a book availability measure; it is easy to administer and repeat, results are reproducible, and comparable data exist for other academic and health sciences libraries. The study followed the standard methodology in the literature with minor modifications. Patrons searching for particular books were asked to record item(s) needed and the outcome of the search. Library staff members then determined the reasons for failures in obtaining desired items. The results of the study are five performance scores. The first four represent the percentage probability of a library's operating with ideal effectiveness; the last provides an overall performance score. The scores of the Library of the Health Sciences demonstrated no unusual availability problems. The study was easy to implement and provided meaningful, quantitative, and objective data.

Books↗