ICML 2009: Meeting Room 2 Session 42

Theme: Health Information

Time:11.00-12.30
Date: Friday 4th September 2009
Chair: Majella Pugh

Going, going, gone... but not forgotten: lessons from a journal de-selection project
Peter B Morgan, Cambridge University Medical Library, United Kingdom

Peter Morgan is Head of Medical & Science Libraries at Cambridge University Library, where he also directed the project that established its institutional repository. In the UK he was inaugural chairman of the University Medical School Librarians Group, has held office in other professional library organisations, and is currently a member of the Research Information Network's Consultative Group on Librarianship and Information Science. In Europe he has served as a UK representative on the EAHIL Council, and he has also worked for the British Council in Pakistan and Kuwait.

Abstract:
Bridge University Medical Library has a strategy of migration from paper-based to e-resources. In 2007 it secured funding for a new IT study area, necessitating the removal of a substantial proportion of the printed journal collection. This paper deals with the process by which journals were proposed for removal, the issues that arose, and the outcomes.

Methods: (1) We targeted backsets of dead titles and monitored their in-library use, comparing the results with a similar review in 2000, to construct a list of low-use titles. (2) We checked these against electronic subscriptions and the holdings of other local libraries and created two lists: 444 unique titles for relocation to a dark archive, and 118 duplicated titles for disposal. (3) We conducted an extensive consultation exercise with our user community, using a web-based survey form to record their responses.

Results: 7,700 users were invited to contribute to the consultation, and we received comments from fewer than 2%. Half the respondents were historians who objected in principle to our relocation plans for unique titles. After further investigation of alternative locations we modified our proposals, redirecting 77 titles to an accessible store, while the remainder were dealt with as originally proposed.

Conclusions:

• Preparing consultative lists of journals for disposal in a multi-library university is a complex and time-consuming task
• A web-based survey is an effective consultation medium
• Most medical library users accept the case for removing old printed journals
• Historians have different requirements requiring different solutions

Google Books coverage of core clinical textbooks
E Diane Johnson, J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library, Univ of MO - Columbia, United States

Head of Information Services at the J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library, University of Missouri - Columbia, USA. Graduate of University of Minnesota. Distinguished member of Academy of Health Information Professionals, Medical Library Association.

Abstract:
Rationale: Google has entered into book scanning agreements with prestigious libraries in eight countries, and search results reveal evidence of participation by commercial publishers as well. Since every word in the text is searchable, Google Books could become a powerful tool for finding precise answers to highly specific clinical questions. Although the exact coverage of Google Books will likely remain a trade secret, medical librarians need to assess its coverage and currency to determine its role in answering clinical questions.

Objective: To determine the extent of coverage of core medical textbooks in Google Books search.

Methods: ISBNs for the recommended core clinical titles from the 2003 Brandon-Hill List will be searched in Google Books to see if each is available. Titles that are listed in Google Books will further be classified as to whether the text is freely available for viewing; whether only a limited text preview is available; or searchable with no preview available. If a new edition has been published since the 2003 Brandon-Hill list, the same information will be gathered for the most recent edition.

Results: Will provide statistics on the availability for all books, for each medical specialty, and for latest editions.

Conclusions: In addition to providing information on overall inclusion and coverage extent of core clinical texts, the data gathered will provide insight into questions like these: Is there a difference in availability between 2003 editions and current editions? Are books from certain medical specialties or publishers more likely to be included in Google Books?

Dissemination of Health Information through ERMED Electronic Journal Consortium in India
Dr Anjana Chattopadhyay, Director, National Medical Library, India

Director, National Medical Library, India. M.Sc.,Ph.D. Diploma (French), Diploma (Computer Sci). Published 4 books (individual authorship) & 27 papers. Attended and presented paper in last 9th ICML in Brazil. Personal website: www.scientistindia.com. ERMED electronic journal coordinator: www.nmlermed.in.

Abstract:
Libraries all over the world practice resource sharing by maintaining their links with resourceful libraries to borrow information materials. Many medical college libraries in developing countries find it very difficult to purchase basic reading material for their students due to ever increasing price of books and journals. The National Medical Library, India (NML) procures over 1600 (print) medical journals, and it disseminates over 8000 photocopy of articles to different medical colleges across the country. The World Health Organization, SEARO also makes use of NML resources for document delivery to South East Asian countries. Advancement of electronic publishing provided unique opportunity to group of libraries having common subject interest to conduct cooperative purchase of electronic journals in most cost-effective manner. This resulted into development of a new trend to form consortium of electronic journals in many less developed countries. This article discussed in detail the initiative taken by the National Medical Library (India) by starting ERMED (Electronic Resources in MEDicine) electronic journal consortium to meet the information needs of health professionals in India. The paper also covered the other important services provided by NML to develop a strong base of Health Information Network in the country.

Assessing the impact of electronic journals in the faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Zimbabwe
Jesten Marufu, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Jesten Marufu is the Veterinary Science Librarian at The University of Zimbabwe.He holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Library and Information Science.He has 5 years experience as a Librarian

Abstract:
In its endeavor to fulfill its mandate of providing relevant and up to date information to support research and teaching at The University of Zimbabwe (UZ), the UZ Library subscribed to a number of electronic journal databases. These databases cover all subjects taught at The UZ including Veterinary Science. This paper assesses the impact that these electronic journals have had so far to the Faculty of Veterinary Science. The impact has been assessed on both the teaching staff and students. This paper will help libraries realize that merely providing the electronic journal information is not enough, but should make sure that the information is being utilized by its target market for it to be useful.

Objective: Assess the impact that electronic journals have had to the Faculty of Veterinary Science. The impact is assessed on both staff and students who are the primary targets of the e-journals.

Methodology: Use of well structured questionnaires to be completed by a randomly selected number of students and staff will provide the needed information. Also, the use statistics of the electronic journals will be used to measure their impact.

Result: A clear indication of the usefulness of the electronic journals to their target market.

Conclusion: The paper exposes some of the reasons why electronic journals can fail to have an impact on their target market. This is then calls for libraries to address these shortcomings so that the rich and up to date information in electronic journals can be used fully.