Health professionals' use of documents obtained through the Regional Medical Library Network.

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Information Science
• Health Sciences Librarianship

Background:

• The Pacific Southwest Regional Medical Library Service (PSRMLS) investigated the utilization of documents acquired via the regional medical library (RML) network.
• Understanding how health professionals interact with RML-provided resources is crucial for optimizing information dissemination in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usage patterns of documents obtained by health professionals through the RML network.
• To determine the impact of factors like delivery time on the utility of these documents.
• To evaluate the overall effectiveness and value of the interlibrary loan (ILL) system for healthcare providers.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to health professionals who received documents via the interlibrary loan (ILL) network from a random sample of libraries in Region 7.
• Data collected included reasons for document requests, the influence of urgency on usefulness, and the impact of information on professional work.
• The importance of illustrations within the documents was also assessed.

Main Results:

• Survey results indicated a positive evaluation of the interlibrary loan (ILL) network's performance.
• The study confirmed the significant value of materials supplied through ILL to health professionals.
• Users reported that the network effectively and efficiently provides timely, relevant information.

Conclusions:

• The RML network, particularly through its ILL services, is a valuable asset for health professionals.
• Identified areas for future network development were highlighted.
• Anticipated technological advancements in electronic transmission and imaging are expected to further improve network operations.