Medicine and literature: a section in a medical university library

Objectives: In 2007, the Alberto Malliani Medical Library of the Università degli Studi in Milan decided to order some novels for its students. The library purchased 24 titles written by famous authors and planned to add others in the future. The proposal for this action was made by a professor, with whom the library had previously co‐operated in organising meetings for students. This article summarises the results of this experiment over 4 years, from its conception, to determine whether any positive outcome has resulted, including how library users welcomed this addition to the library and evaluation of its economic sustainability. Results: Data from July 2007 to December 2010 are presented in terms of the initial purchases, costs, and volume of lending for this section of the library; in addition, readers’ preferences are examined. Conclusions: A university medical library can act as a stimulus to its students’ new or renewed interest in literature, assuming that the novels, biographies, and short stories can contribute positively to the training of medical students. Therefore, setting up a special section can be useful, even though the costs of this section must be limited. A questionnaire could be the method of gathering information about users’ assessment.     

Implementing PDA technology in a medical library: experiences in a hospital library and an academic medical center library

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) have grown from being a novelty in the late 1990s to an essential tool for healthcare professionals in the 2000s. This paper describes the experiences of a librarian who implemented PDA technology first in a hospital library, and then at an academic medical center library. It focuses on the role of the library in supporting PDA technology and resources. Included are programmatic issues such as training for library staff and clinicians, and technical issues such as Palm and Windows operating systems. This model could be used in either a hospital or academic health sciences library.     

From closet to library in the community hospital: remodeling a hospital medical library

Halifax District Hospital's Medical Library, Daytona Beach, Florida was altered from two dingy rooms to a modern, well-equipped Medical Library twice its former size by its maintenance men in six months time, with the help of the librarian's sketches and an architect student from the junior college to draw the plans.A complete renovation was done, eighteen-inch walls between rooms being demolished, plumbing, ceiling, and windows removed. These were all replaced with walnut-paneled walls, special 125 candle-power lighted ceiling, retractable shelves, more shelves for periodicals and books, wall-to-wall carpeting and fashionable decor. New furniture, tape recorders, and TWX were made possible by a Medical Library Resource Grant.The official opening was six months from the first day of renovation, with ribbon cutting, guests, hospital personnel, and a reporter from the newspaper to take pictures for an article about the most modern medical library in Volusia County.The new Medical Library is in the "core" of the Medical Education Department with space for five years growth.     

Planning a new library in an age of transition: the Washington University School of Medicine Library and Biomedical Communications Center

In an era of great technological and socioeconomic changes, the Washington University School of Medicine conceptualized and built its first Library and Biomedical Communications Center in seventy-eight years. The planning process, evolution of the electronic library, and translation of functions into operating spaces are discussed. Since 1983, when the project was approved, a whole range of information technologies and services have emerged. The authors consider the kind of library that would operate in a setting where people can do their own searches, order data and materials through an electronic network, analyze and manage information, and use software to create their own publications.     

New medical library buildings. 3. The Library of Science & Medicine, Rutgers--the State University of New Jersey

A new free-standing library building, designed to integrate the collections serving interdisciplinary study in science and medicine, is described.     

Angel: post-implementation evaluation at the Indiana University School of Medicine

With continued adoption of course management systems, librarians are assuming new roles and challenges with regard to providing information resources and library services in a digital environment. For approximately five years, the Indiana University School of Medicine has employed Angel as its online teaching environment, and the Ruth Lilly Medical Library has been actively involved in the adoption of Angel. As the implementation phase was completed, a post-implementation evaluation was due. The authors conducted an evaluation of the Angel system to evaluate utilization level, content types, and library resources/services integration. This article provides the findings of the post-implementation Angel Courses Evaluation.     

Reference activity and the external user: confluence of community needs at a medical school branch library

The allocation of reference services between primary and secondary users constantly challenges academic medical libraries. Routine statistics at a medical school branch library suggested that over 40% of its reference transactions involved persons not affiliated with the university. To investigate this finding, a survey of reference activity was conducted using measurement techniques unobtrusive to the user. Fifteen data items were recorded, including user status, type of question, intended use of information requested, status of staff taking request, and staff time spent. Survey results showed that nonaffiliates accounted for 51% of reference activity. Based on this documented data, definitive reference guidelines addressing hours, priority of requests, charges, and staffing patterns can now be developed. Findings will also assist in evaluating the library's regional role, in formulating marketing strategies, and in determining library objectives.     

Integrating Information Literacy and Evidence-Based Medicine Content within a New School of Medicine Curriculum: Process and Outcome

This column describes a process for integrating information literacy (IL) and evidence-based medicine (EBM) content within a new school of medicine curriculum. The project was a collaborative effort among health sciences librarians, curriculum deans, directors, and faculty. The health sciences librarians became members of the curriculum committees, developed a successful proposal for IL and EBM content within the curriculum, and were invited to become course instructors for Analytics in Medicine. As course instructors, the librarians worked with the other faculty instructors to design and deliver active learning class sessions based on a flipped classroom approach using a proprietary Information Mastery curriculum. Results of this collaboration may add to the knowledge base of attitudes and skills needed to practice as full faculty partners in curricular design and instruction.     

Use of NEXIS in a medical research library

The NEXIS online system is used a great deal in business and law libraries, but has been virtually overlooked by medical librarians due to their perception of the system as expensive and difficult to search. The changing health care environment has placed new demands on medical searchers for just the type of legal, business, governmental, and news information found in the full-text files in NEXIS. Through the recent introduction of News Plus software, NEXIS can be searched as never before by those unaccustomed to full-text search techniques. Besides simplifying the search process, the new software has cost-saving features since search building and file selection are accomplished offline, and several activities may be done simultaneously. NEXIS via News Plus should be seriously considered as an addition to the repertoire of online systems accessed by medical librarians.     

COLLEAGUE: a comprehensive online medical library for the end user

COLLEAGUE, from BRS/Saunders, is an online information service intended for use by health professionals. This article describes both the databases and services available through COLLEAGUE and shows specific search examples. Special COLLEAGUE features are highlighted as well as the differences between COLLEAGUE and both BRS/AFTER DARK and the BRS Search System. In addition, the role of the librarian in end user searching and future directions for COLLEAGUE are discussed.