REPORT of Committee on Criteria for Medical School Libraries; survey of the libraries in the medical schools of the United States and Canada; preliminary tabulation of replies.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Canada↗
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Results for “Library Surveys”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Hospital library surveys for management and planning: past and future directions.
Since the survey of health sciences libraries by the American Medical Association in 1969, a number of other hospital library surveys have been conducted. Twelve hospital/health sciences library surveys published since the passage of the Medical Library Assistance Act are reviewed. The use of data from these surveys for management and planning is discussed and directions for future library survey development are suggested.
Libraries, Hospital↗
State of the art of expert searching: results of a Medical Library Association survey.
OBJECTIVES: Medical Library Association (MLA) members were surveyed to gather background about the current state of expert searching in institutions. The survey results were intended to guide the recommendations of the Task Force on Expert Searching for promoting the importance of expert searching and implementing those recommendations. METHODS: MLA members were surveyed, and data obtained from the survey were compiled and analyzed to answer three general questions: what is the perceived value of searching skills to the institution, how do health sciences librarians maintain and improve their searching skills, and how are searching services promoted and/or mandated in the institution. RESULTS: There were 256 responses to the survey. Over 95% of the respondents saw their expert-searching skills were of value to their institutions, primarily through performing mediated searches and search consultations. Over 83% of the respondents believed that their searching skills had improved over the past 10 years. Most indicated that continued training was very important in maintaining and improving their skills. Respondents promoted searching services most frequently through orientations, brochures, and the libraries' Web pages. No respondent's institution mandated expert searching. Less than 2% of respondents' institutions had best practice guidelines related to expert searching, and only about 8% had guidelines or policies that identified situations where expert searching was recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The survey supports the belief that health sciences librarians still play a valuable role in searching, particularly in answering questions about treatment options and in providing education. It also highlights the need for more expert searching courses. There has been minimal discussion about the perceived need for expert-searching guidelines in the institutions represented by survey respondents.
Health Education↗
AHRA survey: film library practices.
Presented here are the highlights of the Film Library Practices Report, taken from the 92-page report published by the AHRA in November 1996. Administrators may find information useful for improving their departments, which function most efficiently with smooth running libraries. The survey of AHRA members covers such topics as staffing, storage, copy policies, PACS and problem areas.
Data Collection↗
Can't get to the library? Then we'll come to you. A survey of library services to people in their own homes in the United Kingdom.
AIMS: To determine the current level of library service to people in their own homes in the United Kingdom and to compare it with results from previous surveys. It is many years since a similar survey has been undertaken or guidelines produced and it is hoped that this work will help fill the gap. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent in January 2004 to all public library authorities in the UK, a total of 208; 72% (149) were returned in the timescale allowed. The questionnaire covered the criteria for eligibility to receive a home library service; service structure and delivery: who delivers the service (specialist librarians or specialist non-professional staff, branch library staff or volunteers); training; range of material and services provided; reading aids; materials for reminiscence; information provision; transporting people to the library; services to people in residential homes, sheltered accommodation, nursing homes and day centres; reader development; lifelong learning; and publicity and promotion. The focus of the survey was on quality issues and good practice wherever possible. RESULTS: The number of customers receiving a service to 'housebound' readers in the UK in 2001/2 was 123 407. In 1984 it was 43 807 people in England. This still bears little relation to the number of people who should be receiving the service. The majority used paid staff (88%). Volunteers supported 52% of the services, with most having links with staff. There were opportunities to improve and develop services under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The service was publicized and promoted by only 62% of the respondents. Of those that use paid staff and that answered this question, 73% provide disability equality training for staff. Only 21% provide disability equality training for volunteers. Only 36% are involved in reader development or lifelong learning and only 23% provide a newsletter in print, 11% on tape and 3% in Braille; 12% take laptops into people's homes. CONCLUSIONS: Many authorities were still providing a tokenistic service and were reluctant to publicize for fear of not coping with demand, which makes them vulnerable legally under the DDA. However, there were some excellent examples of good practice where the full range of services are provided to a high standard.
Adult↗
Instructions for a medical school library planning survey.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Humans↗
The Mount Sinai Medical center library user survey.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Libraries, Medical↗
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↗
Security in health service libraries--a survey in North West Thames Region.
My aim is to discuss the results of a survey of health service libraries in North West Thames Region undertaken in November 1990 as part of a more detailed study of library security. Widely varying patterns of losses were discovered. The ways in which librarians have tried to resolve these problems are described and a number of possible solutions are proposed. A brief review of the literature is also included.
Costs and Cost Analysis↗
Survey of libraries in veterinary practice.
Responses were received to a survey of practice libraries, from 537 practices. The average practice library contained between 11 and 30 books and one or two journals. Between 50 pounds and 100 pounds was spent on books each year. Practitioners wished they had more time to read and that the literature was orientated towards practice.
Books↗
Survey of library and information use by health-care students.
The study compares and contrasts the usage and views of three groups of health-care students (Pre-Project 2000, Project 2000 and BSc Occupational Therapy) on their library facilities. A literature review is included which underpins the importance of libraries for health-care students. Data was compiled from survey responses. The results demonstrate which libraries the students use, how often they use them, what they do in the libraries, and the stock used. They also show the level of student confidence and the services used. The implications of the study for future provision are considered.
Attitude of Health Personnel↗
Imperatives for continuing research education: results of a Medical Library Association survey.
This paper reports the results of a survey assessing the interest of Medical Library Association (MLA) members in acquiring or improving research skills through continuing education (CE). It describes respondents' educational preparation for research and selected research activities, reviews MLA's experiences with offering CE courses on research topics, and discusses MLA's role in providing education to prepare members for research. The paper includes recommendations for improving research skills through CE and other professional activities. Topics of greatest interest to MLA members were survey development, problem identification, evaluation and cost studies, survey methodology, and methods of data collection. Many respondents preferred local courses. Academic health sciences librarians, as a group, were found to be more productive publishers than hospital librarians. Many respondents reported the availability of free or subsidized research-support services, but more than half did not. More than 90% of respondents indicated that MLA should actively encourage, require, or offer research education. A comprehensive plan for obtaining research skills through CE, along with individual self-assessment and counseling, is recommended.
Education, Continuing↗
Steps towards a computer-based library network: a survey of three medical libraries.
The introduction of a computerized biomedical network in three medical libraries in the State University of New York demanded a study of the various bibliographic records held by the libraries. The investigation produced figures relating to the total number of monographs held by each library and the number of unique titles owned by the network as a whole. These were broken down to identify the amount of works dating from 1962 or later, and estimates were made of the mean length of the normal bibliographic record, as well as of its traditional subareas. Thought was given to the implication of applying depth-indexing to monographs with reference to the length of the record.
Computers↗
End-user programs in medical school libraries: a survey.
A questionnaire was sent to all medical school libraries listed in the Annual Statistics of Medical School Libraries in the United States and Canada (1983-1984) asking librarians to describe their end-user programs. Of the 113 responding libraries, 78 had an end-user program. All provided some kind of formal instruction, 39 made equipment available to end users, and 22 provided and administered passwords. The reasons most cited for starting a program were staff interest and patron requests. The two most frequently taught systems were NLM/MEDLINE and BRS/Colleague. In general, respondents felt positive about the programs and planned to continue them. The most frequently mentioned problem was need for more equipment.
Computer User Training↗
Nursing libraries: a survey of nurses' access to facilities.
Nurses are increasingly in need of access to nursing libraries following changes to nurse education, increasing emphasis on the use of research to support practice, and the UKCC Post-Registration Education and Practice (PREP) requirements. A survey was, therefore, carried out among 255 libraries to determine whether nurses had sufficient access to nursing libraries. Eighty per cent of libraries said nursing were not denied access but only a third of university sites allowed full access and borrowing facilities. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Hospitals↗
Children in hospital: I. Survey of library and book provision.
Between 1989 and 1991 two related research projects were undertaken by the authors at the Department of Information and Library Studies, Aberystwyth, into services for children in hospital. This article summarizes the findings of the first of the projects, a survey of book and library services to children in hospital, giving a national profile of provision. It demonstrates a substantial provision of reading and other materials available to children in hospital but a small number of library services, as such. Nurses, teachers and hospital play staff generally exploited these materials for pleasure, educational and therapeutic purposes. The survey was based on questionnaires sent to all hospitals in the UK which treated children and was addressed, where possible, to hospital librarians, otherwise to the senior paediatric nurse. A shorter questionnaire was also addressed to all local authority Young People's and Schools Library services for a public library or school library perspective. Where there was evidence of the use of reading therapy, a further questionnaire was sent to explore its practice. A second article will discuss the results of the second project, which was devoted to a further exploration of reading therapy with children in hospital.
Bibliotherapy↗
Reactions to hospital library money survey.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Budgets↗