Providing health information to the general public: a survey of current practices in academic health sciences libraries*

A questionnaire was mailed to 148 publicly and privately supported academic health sciences libraries affiliated with Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)–accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada to determine level of access and services provided to the general public. For purposes of this study, “general public” was defined as nonaffiliated students or health care professionals, attorneys and other nonhealth-related professionals, patients from affiliated or other hospitals or clinics, and general consumers. One hundred five (71%) libraries responded. Results showed 98% of publicly supported libraries and 88% of privately supported libraries provided access to some or all of the general public. Publicly supported libraries saw greater numbers of public patrons, often provided more services, and were more likely to circulate materials from their collections than were privately supported libraries. A significant number of academic health sciences libraries housed a collection of consumer-oriented materials and many provided some level of document delivery service, usually for a fee. Most allowed the public to use some or all library computers. Results of this study indicated that academic health sciences libraries played a significant role in serving the information-seeking public and suggested a need to develop written policies or guidelines covering the services that will be provided to minimize the impact of this service on primary clientele.

Approved list of books for rural libraries. Books for rural libraries must be selected from the list approved by the state superintendent of public instruction, in accordance with section 1 of the rural library of 1903.

At head of title: Dept. of libraries, loans, and course of study.

Jubilee of the Royal Museum and Library, Peel Park. Salford and the inauguration of the public free libraries movement. Together with a short history of the museum and libraries ...

Cover-title: The Royal Museum & Libraries, Salford: their inception & development.

Statistics of public, society, and school libraries having 5,000 volumes and over in 1908.

Mode of access: Internet.

Anecdotes of the manners and customs of London from the Roman invasion to the year 1700 ... To which are added, illustrations of the changes in our language, literary customs, and gradual improvement in style and versification, and various particulars concerning public and private libraries ...

Colored illus. of costumes, v. 2.

Union list of periodicals in the University of Washington libraries and the Seattle public library.

Mode of access: Internet.

Governor's study of public and school libraries in the State of Hawaii.

Mode of access: Internet.

Medical library assistance. Hearing, Ninety-first Congress, first session on H.R. 11223, a bill to amend the Public health service act to extend for three years the programs of assistance for medical libraries. May 22, 1969. May 22, 1969.

"Serial no. 91-13."

...Report on designated depository libraries showing conditions on April 16, 1923, under the selective plan first authorized by Public act 171, 67th Congress, with list of designated depository libraries rev. to July 1, 1923.

"Paper read before the Public documents round table of the American library association, Hot Springs, Ark., April 27, 1923."--p. 5.

The book collection; policy case studies in public and academic libraries.

Mode of access: Internet.

The nine branch libraries of the Public library of Newark.

Mode of access: Internet.

Look us up : the public awareness campaign for Illinois libraries - summary report on the campaign launch.

Cover title.

Statistics of public, society, and school libraries.

Mode of access: Internet.