Planning and designing hospital health science libraries

The people who plan and design hospital libraries must be aware of the environment in which the library functions. The hospital health science library operates under a different set of values and priorities from an academic library. Three methodologic studies are reported to determine hospital health science functions with comments on the significance of the data for designing: (i) the extent and possible use of books and journal collections makes it evident a hospital must act as an access point to the scholarly record; (ii) a survey of 41 hospitals shows a wide variety and combination of 33 user services; obviously what services are to be given should be decided before design; (iii) observing how different areas are used by a library's clientele shows that groups use the library differently and within certain time patterns; the arrangement of the functional areas can be better designed if quantitative data on the use of space are available.     

International trends in health science librarianship part 17: a comparison of health science libraries with academic and research libraries

Over the last 4 years this Regular Feature has looked at trends in health science librarianship in the 21st century. Although there are still a few more regions to be covered in this series, this issue explores general trends in academic and research libraries with a view to discovering whether the trends identified for health science libraries are similar. Are health science libraries unique? Or do their experiences mirror those found in the wider world of academic and research libraries? JM     

Introduction to statistical surveys of health science libraries

The series of studies by the Committee on Surveys and Statistics of MLA presents the first comprehensive statistical picture of American health science libraries. These studies fill a serious information gap, and constitute a solid base for both present planning and historical record.     

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.     

The status of women in the administration of health science libraries.

Results of a survey of large health science libraries in the United States demonstrate that the relative position of men and women in administration is comparable to that prevalent in other types of libraries. Medical school and the largest libraries are the most likely to be administered by men. The percentage of women who are directors of large biomedical libraries has declined radically since 1950. The statistics presented here will serve as a base for assessing future change.     

Using technology to promote the development of health science libraries in China

From the point of view of the development of libraries, technology has made possible the emergence and development of library automation; digital libraries; mobile libraries; and smart libraries. This article briefly describes the impact of technological developments and application in Health Science Libraries in China in relation to collections development, service provision and the role of library associations.     

Digital chat reference in health science libraries: challenges in initiating a new service

Digital reference service adds a valuable new dimension to health science reference services, but the road to implementation can present questions that require carefully considered decisions. This article incorporates suggestions from the published literature, provides tips from interviews with practicing academic health science librarians, and reports on data from students' exploration of academic health science library Web sites' digital reference services. The goal of this study is to provide guidelines to plan new services, assess user needs, and select software, and to showcase potential benefits of collaboration and proactive and user-friendly marketing. In addition, tips for successful operation and evaluation of services are discussed.     

Work/training programs for international health science librarians in American medical school libraries

World understanding is more than a desirable goal today: it may be crucial to our survival. Many universities realize this and have in the past decade spent a great deal of time and money to ensure a steady flow of faculty and students between the U.S. and other countries. Librarians with faculty or academic status may benefit from promoting such relationships themselves. Job exchanges and training programs offer librarians in the United States the opportunity to become acquainted with their counterparts in other countries. Such programs enable librarians of various countries to become aware of one another's special needs and common problems, and allow them to share ideas and expertise. This paper presents an overview of international training programs for foreign librarians in the United States, focusing on programs for health sciences librarians in United States medical school libraries. Information is given on the availability and types of institutionally sponsored programs, as well as on MLA's Cunningham Fellowship Program. Some of the difficulties and the benefits of such programs are discussed.     

Departmental acquisitions policies for small college libraries

The idea of “levels of support” or “levels of collection density, ”which is fundamental to modern collection development policies, is suitable for large research libraries but not for small college libraries, where the primary problem is not deciding at what level to support individual collections, but picking and choosing from among books on the intermediate levels. One way a small college library can deal with this problem is by developing departmental acquisitions policies which ensure that books on the intermediate levels are evaluated and selected systematically instead of haphazardly and intuitively.     

The economics of academic health sciences libraries: cost recovery in the era of big science

With launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s, science and technology became a high priority in the United States. During the two decades since, health sciences libraries have experienced changes in almost all aspects of their operations. Additionally, recent developments in medical care and in medical education have had major influences on the mission of health science libraries. In the unending struggle to keep up with new technologies and services, libraries have had to support increasing demands while they receive a decreasing share of the health care dollar. This paper explores the economic challenges faced by academic health sciences libraries and suggests measures for augmenting traditional sources of funding. The development of marketing efforts, institutional memberships, and fee-based services by the Louis Calder Memorial Library, University of Miami School of Medicine, is presented as a case study.     

Marketing and health libraries

AIM: To present an overview of the concepts of marketing and to examine ways in which they can be applied to health libraries. METHODS: A review was carried out of literature relating to health libraries using LISA, CINAHL, BNI and Google. RESULTS: Marketing is seen as a strategic management activity aimed at developing customer relationships. Concepts such as the 'four Ps' (product, price, place and promotion), marketing plans, the marketing mix, segmentation, promotion and evaluation are identified and discussed in relation to health libraries. CONCLUSION: In increasingly complex health service and information environments, the marketing and promotion of library services is becoming more important if those services are to justify the resources given to them. Marketing techniques are equally applicable to physical and digital library services.     

美国高校图书馆中的移动流通自助服务

调研移动流通自助服务模式,即读者利用其个人电子设备（如智能手机等）及移动应用程序实现流通借阅的自助服务模式及其应用现状和问题。对50余个美国高校图书馆工作人员进行问卷调查,结果显示尽管移动流通自助服务的概念被普遍认可,但实现仍需时日。调查中,超过1/3（占35%）的图书馆设有自助服务台,一半以上（占51%）的图书馆工作人员对自助服务应用程序有所了解,但有超过2/3（占70%）的图书馆近期没有考虑设置移动流通自助服务。本研究提供的信息和数据将有助于为高校及公共图书馆是否使用移动流通自助服务提供决策支持,以应对读者与日俱增的数字阅读习惯及其对移动服务的需求。     

Collection development policies and practices in medical school rare book libraries

A survey of collection development policies and practices in medical school rare book libraries indicated that only 20% had documented criteria for collection development. The advantages of preparing and maintaining a formal written collection development policy are presented with guidelines for formulating such a policy.     

An overview of the World Health Organization's (WHO) policies concerning health libraries and documentation centres*

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Continuing professional development in Australian health libraries

This article provides an outline to current issues in continuing professional development within the Australian health library sector. The role of the Australian Library and Information Association is explored, and other providers of CPD activities and their relevance to health librarians are discussed.     

Technology and informatics in Australian health libraries

Australia is no different to any other country in that information technology (IT) and the speed of its advancement has a huge impact on health care and therefore on health libraries. Australian health librarians are valuable members of health care teams and strive to integrate services and resources across hospitals. This article looks at the role Australian health libraries play in the broader health information landscape and the importance of information governance and health informatics as a tenet of the work undertaken by libraries. Of particular focus in this is the Health Libraries Australia/Telstra Health Digital Health Innovation Award, offered annually, to help focus on particular technological challenges. Three cases studies are explored demonstrating impact on the systematic review process, inter-library loan system automation and a room booking service. Also discussed are the ongoing professional development opportunities, which help upskill the Australian health library workforce. Australian health libraries also face many challenges with piecemeal IT systems across the nation, resulting in lost opportunities. Also, many Australian health services do not have a qualified librarian on staff, which undermines information governance. However, resiliency shines through with strong professional health library networks working to challenge the status quo in an effort to improve the application of health informatics.     

Standards for vision science libraries: 2014 revision

Objective:

This Association of Vision Science Librarians revision of the “Standards for Vision Science Libraries” aspires to provide benchmarks to address the needs for the services and resources of modern vision science libraries (academic, medical or hospital, pharmaceutical, and so on), which share a core mission, are varied by type, and are located throughout the world.

Methods:

Through multiple meeting discussions, member surveys, and a collaborative revision process, the standards have been updated for the first time in over a decade.

Results:

While the range of types of libraries supporting vision science services, education, and research is wide, all libraries, regardless of type, share core attributes, which the standards address.

Conclusions:

The current standards can and should be used to help develop new vision science libraries or to expand the growth of existing libraries, as well as to support vision science librarians in their work to better provide services and resources to their respective users.The Association of Vision Science Librarians (AVSL)—whose more than 150 members represent ophthalmology, optometry, and industry libraries throughout the world—has defined standards for its libraries since 1976 1–3. AVSL recommends that vision science libraries (VSLs) have at least one active member in AVSL. Standards for this very specialized area of library service have evolved owing to the work of librarians who, since 1937, have been developing and refining standards for their libraries 4. The standards reported here reflect the changes that have taken place during the decade and a half since the last edition of these standards were published. Changes include recommended staffing and technology, and the addition of a section addressing online access to information.AVSL convened a task force to first evaluate whether a standards revision was needed. Once it was agreed to do so, the task force guided the process of the revision, which included member surveys and discussions at meetings over the span of two years.The standards are intended to provide qualitative information such as appropriate staffing levels and collection scope, which can be used to evaluate existing vision science libraries or to develop new vision science libraries. In addition, these libraries should reflect the purpose and mission of the institution to which each belongs, and each library should have policies in place that outline the various areas to support the education, research, and patient care information needs of their institutions.