Evaluating the impact of library services on the quality and cost of medical care

Recent federal regulations have minimized the role of the hospital library in contributing to the quality of medical care and in lowering hospital costs. We trace the events that have led to these assumptions and discuss the complex problem of evaluating the impact of library services. Current research on the value and effectiveness of information is outlined.     

Planning changes to health library services on the basis of impact assessment

Background: Various methods of impact assessment for health library services exist, including a toolkit developed for the UK. The Knowledge, Resource and Information service (KRIS) for health promotion, health service commissioning and public health (Bristol area, UK) commissioned an independent team at Aberystwyth University to provide an impact assessment and evaluation of their services and to provide evidence for future planning. Objective: The review aimed to provide an action plan for KRIS through assessing the impact of the current service, extent of satisfaction with existing services and views on desirable improvements. Methods: Existing impact toolkit guidance was used, with an adapted impact questionnaire, which was distributed by the KRIS staff to 244 users (response rate 62.3%) in early 2009. The independent team analysed the questionnaire data and presented the findings. Results: Users valued the service (93% considered that relevant information was obtained). The most frequent impacts on work were advice to patients, clients or carers, and advice to colleagues. Literature searching and current awareness services saved staff time. Many users were seeking health promotion materials. Conclusion: The adapted questionnaire worked well in demonstrating the service impacts achieved by KRIS, as well as indicating desirable improvements in service delivery.     

Assessing access: Surveying user services at library high density storage facilities

Millions of library items are held in storage locations, but how well are libraries providing access to those materials? A survey of North American research libraries was conducted to examine the services that were available at library storage facilities for researchers and students before the global pandemic, during the pandemic, and as libraries adjust and plan for the new normal as the pandemic recedes. In addition, results of previous studies of storage facilities are compared to understand historical trends in access to library materials held in storage. A better understanding of user services as a component of library storage facilities will allow libraries to better serve the needs of scholars and researchers as well as provide insight to those who may be planning future library storage facilities.     

服务接触对图书馆服务质量的影响实证

图书馆服务接触是读者感知图书馆服务质量的基础.论文从图书馆服务接触视角人手,对服务环境、服务人员、服务方式建立观测量表,并在问卷调查的基础上,通过交叉分析、相关性分析、回归分析等方法,分析了用户的部分个体特征、服务接触相关因素对用户感知服务质量的影响.     

A survey of library services for autistic college students

According to the research literature, services at academic libraries and institutions of higher education do not adequately address the support needed to help autistic students thrive in college. We surveyed academic librarians about library services for autistic students at their libraries to better understand the relevant library services provided for this population. At the institutions surveyed, 37 % (n = 22) of libraries have a person responsible for accessibility issues, and 63 % (n = 37) do not have a person responsible for accessibility. Additionally, we found that 78 % (n = 47) of academic libraries provide services for disabled students and only 22 % do not (n = 13). Most pertinent to our research, 34 % of libraries (n = 20) provide services for autistic students and 66 % (n = 39) do not provide services for autistic students.     

Determining the impact of health library services on patient care: a review of the literature

The impact of health library information has been studied in a number of settings and populations. This review examines both the methods employed and the outcomes reported in a series of impact studies conducted in four countries since the late 1980's. It demonstrates that health library information can affect patient care outcomes in various ways and has high cognitive and clinical value in diagnosing and treating patients. But there remains no agreed technique or methodology for determining the level of this impact. In many cases evaluation of the health library's impact will be located within a central process of evaluation of the greater organization to which the library belongs. Consequently, local ad hoc evaluation is rarely reported outside an organization. The author considers the question of whether it is worthwhile doing an impact study and what form it might take. The author concludes by identifying seminal papers on the topic.     

The marketing audit: a new perspective on library services and products

A marketing audit enables a library to look at audiences, services, and products with a structured approach. The audit can be used to assess operations and to provide a framework for ongoing decision making, evaluation, and long-range planning. An approach to the audit process is presented and its application is demonstrated in a case study featuring the American Hospital Association Resource Center.     

Collection development and acquisitions for library services to students of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

This paper provides background information on Thailand's Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and summarizes the main services provided to STOU students. It then examines library and educational media services and gives special attention to acquisitions policies and procedures as well as to budgeting. Finally, particular problems and possible solutions are considered.     

Improving library services for graduate nurse students in New Zealand

BACKGROUND: Graduate students are expected to have basic information literacy skills. Knowing how to access and select relevant information and then utilize that information is a necessary skill in today's knowledge and information-age world. In the health-care sector, the rise in evidence-based medicine has brought into focus the importance of information literacy skills for nurses. In the case described, information literacy skills are embedded in the curriculum and strengthened in collaboration with library staff. AIMS: To identify graduate student nurses' use of the library, and the library's response to findings. METHODS: A case-study approach was used with both quantitative and qualitative data. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to all nurses enrolled in graduate courses in the second semester of 2002. Interviews were then undertaken with library staff. RESULTS: The university library services were not used by 43% of graduate nursing students and the library responded by developing a number of initiatives. CONCLUSIONS: Finding a deficit in use of the library by graduate nurses, this paper outlines the response by the library to improving awareness of services, access and providing education in a bid to improve literacy skills.     

Textbook access and affordability through academic library services: A department develops strategies to meet the needs of students

In the spring of 2015, the University of Minnesota Libraries formed the Content Services department, which is comprised of Interlibrary Loan, Publishing Services, and the Copyright Permissions Service. These three service points, as well as additional Library units, work together with campus partners to save students money on their course materials through a variety of programs and pilot projects. By employing multiple avenues to help faculty and students put affordable content into their existing workflows for providing and accessing required readings, the University of Minnesota Libraries are ensuring that there are many options available that support coursework and ultimately student success.     

The move to community care and the impact of long-term disability on health service provision: some implications for library services

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正与负:新的著作权法对图书馆之影响

本文分析了新的著作权法给图书馆的运行带来的严格约束、对图书馆文化保存职能的强烈冲击,以及对图书馆发展的积极效应,并阐述了图书馆的应对策略.     

Dutch library services to disadvantaged persons

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Customized USB flash drives used to promote library resources and services to first-year medical and dental students

In line with its institution's commitment to keep new student orientation/welcome events "green," Columbia University's Health Sciences Library (HSL) applied for a National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region (NN/LM MAR) Small Projects Award(1) in Spring/Summer 2009 to explore paperless modes of outreach. This article describes the project that resulted from this funding, whose purpose was to determine whether customized 1 GB USB flash drives are a good vehicle for distributing library promotional materials to incoming medical and dental students. This project gave HSL librarians the opportunity to connect with students in a way that had not been done before and to consider how these new students use/view the information the library produces.     

A study of issues in administering library services to nursing studies students at Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University has had a Scottish Office pre-registration nursing and midwifery contract since 1996. Nursing studies students seemed dissatisfied with the library service and there were frequent complaints. A major study was undertaken during 2000 consisting of: an initial lis-link enquiry, separate analysis of returns from nursing studies students of the Library's annual general satisfaction survey (conducted every February), separate analysis of returns from nursing studies students of the Library's opening hours planning survey, and four focus groups held in October 2000. These studies showed the concerns of nursing studies students to be similar to other students but more strongly felt. The four main issues were textbook availability, journal availability, opening hours and staff helpfulness. Working conditions, placement requirements, study requirements and domestic circumstances were all found to be important factors. IT skill levels tended to be low but there is a growing appreciation of the need for training in this area. Concluded that: Library's services to nursing studies students have become enmeshed with the problems of delivery and assessment of education for nurses. Greatly extended opening hours are essential including evening opening during vacations. The problem of access to textbooks is so severe that conventional solutions are not going to work. Programmes of core text digitization and the promotion of e-books are needed. Reciprocal access programmes with local hospital libraries is essential.     

以人文精神诠释服务--兼谈大学图书馆服务质量

服务是图书馆工作的核心.大学图书馆应将人性化的管理理念融入服务工作中,以人文精神诠释服务,使服务质量有一个质的飞跃.