Use of the physical collections and services of academic libraries continues to plummet, with some exceptions, while use of electronic networked resources skyrockets. This article frames the extent of this decline with a focus on circulation and reference among ARL University, Medical, and Law Libraries, the Ivy League, other associations,…

The purpose of this report was to formulate a definition of health science libraries which would allow them to be objects of study. Four general definitions of health science libraries are presented from the viewpoints of: (1) librarians and managers of libraries as institutions, (2) the institutions or administrative units supporting library…

The objectives of this study undertaken for the National Library of Medicine were to develop a list of issues and criteria that relate to the problem of measurement of medical library effectiveness. The procedure employed was to review the literature on the subject of library evaluation. Each criterion or measure of evaluation encountered was…

The results of a questionnaire sent to the users of the Health Sciences Information Service (HSIS) at the University of Kentucky are summarized by this report. Several observations were made from the data presented: (1) when a dependable information service is organized it gets used; (2) the number of individuals who report the use of HSIS through…

Data regarding current services in hospital libraries of the metropolitan Detroit area form the nucleus of this study. The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to ascertain what services are given to users of hospital libraries and (2) to determine the value of the inventory as a means for obtaining information on user-services in hospital…

This interlibrary loan study was done in 16 health care institutions during two weeks in November, 1967 and two weeks in March, 1968. Each interlibrary loan requester was asked to record what position he held (attending staff, resident, intern, other staff), and whether his request was related to patient care, teaching, continuing education, or…

This study investigated ways in which the costs of a library's direct and indirect services can be equitably allocated to its heterogeneous group of institution users. It was conducted from October 1, 1974 to March 31, 1977. The final report is divided into four parts, each describing a separate issue. Part I discusses the general administrative…

Part II of the study describes a model for associating one portion of total library costs with use; the model's output is a set of charges that can be used to recover (justify) these usage-based costs. Algebraic formulations constructed and combined to form the model are a set of service charges that may vary by user type and recover out-of-pocket…

Part III of the study describes a model for completing the cost assessment (justification) process by accounting for the fixed joint costs; a "fair" and equitable mechanism is developed in the context of game-theoretic approach. An n-person game is constructed in which the "players" are the institutions served by the library,…

Part IV is a summary analysis of sample and survey data collected to facilitate the structure of the cost assessment models and to find out which, if any, subgroups of HAM-TMC user population make more (or less) use of various library services. Sampling data were obtained from brief interviews and in-house files of various user institutions to…

This study explores means by which biomedical information might be distributed over a network to physicians and other personnel in the health sciences. Health Science libraries of all types are surveyed in terms of location, facilities, collection, staff, budget, and services. The library's user group is presented, and cooperative agreements among…

Tracking use of print journals over a ten-year period has allowed The University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine Library an essential tool for more accurate collection development, for both print and electronic selection. This lengthy study has provided usage statistics for purchasing decisions regarding electronic subscriptions still…

This study was launched to address concerns about the needs of after-hours users going unmet at the Cleveland (Ohio) Clinic Foundation Library Services Department. The collection itself is available for use on the premises by clinic employees 24 hours a day, but employees do not remain on site to provide assistance, materials may not be signed out…

A history and overview of library services in the health sciences area, beginning with the deluge of information in World War II. Includes discussion of types of libraries and users, special services, interlibrary cooperation, bibliography and research, information retrieval and library mechanization. An extensive list of references is appended.…

A statistical measure of user satisfaction among medical school faculty members was undertaken which found that such libraries tend to develop techniques of storage, retrieval, and dissemination of medical information without benefit of current research into the real needs of faculties and researchers. (Author/MLW)