The effect of CD-ROM MEDLINE on online end-user and mediated searching: a follow-up study

Indiana University School of Medicine Library (IUSML) has traditionally been a high volume searching institution. The dramatic effect of CD-ROM on online end-user searching and the negligible effect on mediated searching was reported in an earlier study. This follow-up study reveals that the proportion of mediated searching has been drastically reduced from 94% in 1986/87 to 39% as of November 1989. Mediated searches are declining in absolute numbers as well. End-user searching, by contrast, has increased by 54% percent over the previous year. A related trend is the increased use of CD-ROM by the librarian as an alternative to mediated online searching. These trends are expected to continue as IUSML expands its CD-ROM operation to include other databases. As mediated searching declines, the librarian's role will increasingly include end-user training.