Circulation policies in health science libraries

There is general agreement that library policies have considerable influence on the use of libraries. Medical school (health science) libraries of this country were surveyed as to their policies in respect to whether faculty and student use were regulated by a single policy, circulation regulations, hours library was accessible to users, accessibility of reserve material, interlibrary loan, policy on overdue material, and exit control.THE LIBRARIES WERE THEN DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS, HIGH, MIDDLE, AND LOW ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: size of student body, size of faculty, size of holdings, size of library staff, annual budget, and annual circulation.Our findings would indicate that schools falling in a high category based upon these criteria tend to be more restrictive in their policies and to have different regulations for faculty and students than do schools in the low category.These findings warrant further study.     

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.     

Budgeting for hospital libraries

Budgeting is a responsibility faced by all hospital librarians. Hospital administrators expect the librarian to present a financial plan for the year ahead. The budget must predict expenditures for personnel, library materials, purchased services, and equipment. The current and previous year's financial outlay should be coordinated with the budget year. To present a budget effectively, a librarian must relate financial requirements to goals of the institution of which the library is a part.     

Integrated information management and hospital libraries

It is demonstrated that hospitals are information-dependent and that there is need for integration of information generated and gathered through their subsystems. This paper discusses recommendations of the Matheson Report for an integrated information management system which would link these subsystems. The library's statement of mission, means for self-assessment, and analysis of information needs and uses are explored. Future directions with examples of new roles for the library are outlined.     

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.     

创建节约型医院图书馆

分析了创建节约型医院图书馆的必要性,提出了创建节约型医院图书的主要措施及应该注意的问题。     

医院图书馆学科化服务

通过阐述学科化服务的内涵及特点,从学科资源建设、学科服务机制、学科服务内容、学科队伍建设等方面,结合医院实际提出了医院图书馆学科化服务模式。     

图书馆导向标识牌设计漫谈

文章对图书馆导向标识牌的设置、标识牌语言设计及外形设计等方面进行分析,旨在使图书馆标识牌的设计更好地顺应当今图书馆服务工作以人为本、读者至上的服务宗旨。     

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.     

教学医院图书馆与高校图书馆联合共建模式

根据教学医院图书馆存在的馆藏资源匮乏、技术人才缺乏、现代化建设水平较低、文献资源的开发力度不够等问题,提出教学医院图书馆与高校图书馆联合共建的想法,并对其实现模式、可行性和应该注意的问题进行了详细阐述。     

医院图书馆工作中信息不对称现象及对策

分析了医院图书馆工作中存在的信息不对称现象,提出了控制的措施,以便医院图书馆更好地为广大读者服务,促进医院图书馆健康发展。     

Impact of changing health care economics on Michigan hospital libraries: report of a survey

In an attempt to determine how efforts to contain the soaring cost of U.S. health care in the 1980s have affected the size and stature of Michigan hospital libraries, a survey was sent out in April 1988 to 156 hospitals across the state. Fifteen of the 97 responding institutions did not maintain libraries during the survey period and were subsequently excluded from the study. Total FTEs in the 82 responding libraries decreased by 6.1%. In the 69 libraries reporting budget data, materials budgets increased, but by less than 7% a year. Eighteen of the 82 libraries had positions reclassified, with 12 (14.6%) assigned downgrades. The trend toward reduced size and perceived value of hospital libraries that emerged from the survey points to the need for regular collection of comprehensive hospital library statistics to assist hospital librarians in effective direction of their profession's course.     

医院图书馆与社区互动的启示

医院图书馆已成为社区居民获取医学信息资源的重要渠道。在介绍医院图书馆为社区服务现状的基础上,从建立社区卫生服务的信息支持系统、拓宽社区医疗服务职能以及增强馆藏资源的文化功能3个方面,深入阐述了新时期医院图书馆与社区互动带给医务工作者的启示。