A quality assurance process in health sciences libraries

A goal of libraries is to assure the improvement of library services. Many organizations have attempted to use standards as a method to assure quality services, but often standards have failed through a lack of individual commitment to those standards and to the methodology used in establishing the standards. Many segments of the health care field have adopted the concept of quality assurance and are applying it to the service and care they provide. This process has the potential to raise or assure quality of service in health sciences libraries. The process involves: selecting a subject for review; developing measurable criteria; ratifying the criteria; evaluating existing services using the criteria; identifying problems; analyzing problems; developing solutions; implementing solutions; and reevaluating services. Two pilot quality assurance studies conducted in the Midwest Health Science Library Network during 1978 are described. Plans are under way to use this process on a regional basis.