Mechanization of library procedures in the medium-sized medical library. 8. Suspension of computer atalog

A system for the substitution of a computer-printed book catalog for a card catalog was put to the test by making the former the sole means of locating material in the library, after four years of being used merely as an adjunct to the card catalog. It was found not suitable, and a new system is being devised in the light of the difficulties encountered. The reasons why the system broke down and the plans for the new one are described.     

Mechanization of library procedures in the medium-sized medical library. VI. Selective dissemination of information

As part of Washington University School of Medicine Library's continuing use of computers in the library, a selective dissemination of information system was tested. The project was to evaluate the system in relation to its serving the needs of a specialized medical research group. Both the manual and computer operations of the system are described. After three months of operation, the results, including relevancy, effectiveness, and existing needs, are discussed and analyzed; modifications are suggested to improve the present system.     

Mechanization of library procedures in the medium-sized medical library. IV. Physical characteristics of the acquisitions-cataloging record

Acquisitions-Cataloging records stored on magnetic tape by the Washington University School of Medicine Library were examined to determine frequency and average length of record components and their alphabetization requirements in a book catalog. Data from this study of 4,708 records will be used in adaptation of the Library's computer-based cataloging system to greater machine capabilities. The first of these two papers compares measurements found for WUSML records with those reported in studies of conventional catalog cards. The number of sorting positions used to alphabetize entries and causes of sort failure are examined in the second paper (Number V) which will be found on page 71 of this issue of the BULLETIN.     

Mechanization of library procedures in the medium-sized medical library. 8. Computer applications in hospital departmental libraries

To test the hypothesis that a standard library system could be designed for hospital departmental libraries, a system was developed and partially tested for four departmental libraries in the Washington University School of Medicine and Associated Hospitals. The system from determination of needs through design and evaluation, is described. The system was limited by specific constraints to control of the monograph collection. Products of control include catalog cards, accessions list, new book list, location list, fund list, missing book list, and discard book list. Sample data form and pages from a procedure manual are given, and conversion from a manual to an automated system is outlined.The question of standardization of library records and procedures is discussed, with indications of the way in which modular design, as utilized in this system, could contribute to greater flexibility in design of future systems.Reference is made to anticipating needs for organizing departmental libraries in developing regional medical library programs and to exploring the role of the departmental library in a medical library network.     

Mechanization of library procedures in the medium-sized medical library. X. Uniqueness of compression codes for bibliographic retrieval

Two-word compression techniques, the University of Chicago experimental search code and a phonetic code similar to the SOUNDEX coding system, were tested as search codes on a data base of 7,464 bibliographic records. These codes were automatically generated and tested for uniqueness. A modified version of the University of Chicago search code produced the best results with a uniqueness factor of 98.83 percent. The algorithms for generating these codes are explained, and implication of the findings for medium-sized libraries are discussed.     

Mechanization of library procedures in the medium-sized medical library. XI. Two methods of providing selective dissemination of information to medical scientists

The purpose of this study was to determine if a computerized commercial selective dissemination of information service could contribute to the services offered to the patrons of a specific medical library who were already participating in a manual selective dissemination of information service. The citations generated by the two services were contrasted on the basis of literature coverage, timeliness of retrieval, and relevancy of output. Eighty-four percent of the discrete citations retrieved were from 664 periodicals subscribed to by both services. Only 16 percent of the total of 1,387 discrete citations were produced by both services. The manual service was more timely; and, although it produced fewer citations, a higher percentage of these were relevant. Numerically, a total of 346 useful citations were recovered by the manual service and 379 from the commercial service. It appears, therefore, that a computerized commercial SDI service could contribute to the services offered to the medical scientists participating in a manual SDI service.     

Mechanization of libaray procedures in the medium-sized medical library. VII. Relevancy of cited articles in citation indexing

Science Citation Index is one of a number of indexes based on the assumption that the papers cited by one author refer to work which is relevant to the subject discussed by the author citing them. Cleverdon, however, has questioned that assumption, and it was to test the assumption that this research was undertaken. An attempt was made to determine what percent of articles cited were related to the citing article. The conclusion reached was that in the field of medicine approximately 72 percent of the cited papers were considered related to the original paper by the authors of the original, thus apparently bearing out the assumption for citation indexing.     

Mechanization in a new medical school library. II. Serials and circulation

The serials and circulation phases of the data-processing system in use at the University of New Mexico Library of the Medical Sciences are described. The development of the programs is also reported. The serials program uses simple punched card equipment. The circulation program uses the IBM 357 Data Collection System and punched card data-processing equipment.     

Cost-performance analysis of TWX-mediated interlibrary loans in a medium-sized medical center library

The need for a cost-performance analysis of TWX-mediated versus mail-mediated ILL requests is presented. Three hypotheses are proposed: (1) Unit cost for TWX-mediated ILL requests is greater then for mail-mediated ILL requests; (2) Completion time is shorter for TWX-mediated ILL requests than for mail-mediated ILL requests; (3) An analytic model can be developed that can be used to generate administrative data concerning a TWX installation. The data presented support all three hypotheses. It is shown, also, that through the use of this model a library can arrive at a cost for service of TWX versus mail-mediated ILL.     

Computer-stored faculty publication file using the MT/ST in a medium-sized medical center library.

The Bowman Gray School of Medicine Library has implemented a computerized faculty publication file adapted from an existing system that utilized a Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter for catalog card production and computer storage. The faculty publication file has provided printouts for the school's annual report and monthly faculty bulletins. After the data for all faculty bibliographies have been stored in the file, it will be possible to retrieve complete author and departmental listings. The file will be continuously updated by adding current citations and the bibliographies of new faculty members and by deleting data when faculty members leave the staff.     

Classification of support staff in a consortium medical library: a case study.

A representative committee of Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library staff and faculty, under the direction of the library administration, successfully redesigned a job classification system for the library's nonprofessional staff. In the new system all nonprofessionals are assigned to one of five grade levels, each with a corresponding salary range. To determine its appropriate grade level each job is analyzed and assigned a numerical value using a point system based on a set of five factors, each of which is assigned a relative number of points. The factors used to measure jobs are: education and experience, complexity of work, administrative accountability, manual skill, and contact with users. Each factor is described according to degrees, so that a job can be given partial credit for a factor. An advisory staff classification committee now participates in the ongoing administration of the classification system.     

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.     

Volunteers in the medical library: issues and suggestions for their use

The implementation of the use of volunteers in a medical library poses a unique challenge to the library administrator who must effectively utilize individuals who are often inexperienced with the highly technical informational needs of medical clientele. The benefits and difficulties of volunteer use are discussed along with specific issues that may occur--legal issues, the issue of volunteer use vs. paid employee, and the determination of the value of volunteers. A checklist of suggested uses of volunteers is included as well as an evaluation form that can be used to aid the library administrator and volunteer in evaluating the volunteer's performance and job satisfaction.     

Three-way division combined with conversion to Medical Subject Headings(MeSH) in a medium-sized medical library

Conversion to MeSH and other reasons are enumerated for the division of an undivided dictionary card catalog into a three-way divided catalog, consisting of Proper Names, Titles, and Topical Subjects sections. Methodology of division is described. Conversion from Library of Congress Subject Headings to Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) as an authority list stimulated such concurrent changes as (1) the introduction of a guide card system that eliminates typing of subject headings on catalog cards and (2) the adoption of a filing system that employs reverse chronological order for all types of sequential material in the Proper Names and Titles sections and for all material in the Topical Subjects section. The ancillary decisions, procedures, and methods necessitated by these major conversions are also described.