I agree that electonic info is the way forward-
check out OXAMWEB (URL below) for
an example of how this might develop
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 15:14:52 -0000
Subject: Knowledge services for primary care
From: Dr John Williams <[log in to unmask]>
To: Jonathan Hutchins <[log in to unmask]>,
evidence-based-health <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-to: Dr John Williams <[log in to unmask]>
Yes - this is a real problem in busy general practice. Even if we get
around to searching for answers to clinical questions "before we leave the
building" we still have to get the papers to peruse.
In theory that could be done via email to library at local PGMC but in
practice such requests can go astray. It is another link in a too long
chain. Our librarians have always been most helpful but for some reason
requests don't always result in the goods being delivered. Could be the
courier of course...
All that might be made easier if the text could be sent electronically. I'd
still want to print it in most cases as long articles are much more easily
read / understood / assimilated when on paper that can be carried around,
moved about, taken to a place of comfort etc. An additional advantage would
be the ability to produce copies for journal club / clinical meetings. OK -
I'd have to pay for the printing but nothing is free.
There must be copyright issues to resolve - and of course the publishers
would need to find a way of continuing to make their living - but when will
we be able to access the original texts electronically? That way we might
even reduce burdens on librarians who surely have more productive things to
do than stand by a photocopying machine?
John Williams
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
> Jonathan Hutchins
> Sent: 16 October 1998 17:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Knowledge services for primary care
>
>
> >Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 11:09:10
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >From: Jonathan Hutchins <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: Knowledge services for primary care
> >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >>The problem is that having found citations to relevant papers we can't
> quickly get access to a photocopy of the article, despite links to the
> local University and to the Medical Library in secondary care.
> The hospital
> library say they don't have enough staff to photocopy articles for us and
> that GPs etc should go in and photocopy for themselves. Unfortunately, it
> is practically impossible to park at the library and <snip>
> >
> I'm reluctant to criticise professional colleagues when I don't know what
> their agendas and workloads are, but especially if physical access to the
> library is a problem, it seems to me that library staff should
> recognise an
> obligation to provide copies as a service. That's certainly the way it
> works here with my library (embedded in an acute Trust, with parking
> notoriously impossible): we refuse to copy for users on site, but
> will copy
> and post/fax stuff out to users on other sites, in the community etc. But
> then my service level agreement explicitly extends to all NHS and
> NHS-related staff in the local area, including primary care, and it may be
> different with your secondary care library.
>
> The HE sector can more reasonably refuse to oblige I would think, though
> again local arrangements vary.
>
> Incidentally 4 pounds for a BL copy/loan is not a bad deal!! Current cost
> of a voucher is 4 pounds 95 incl. VAT, and then if you include staff time
> in handling it it works out as over the fiver.
>
> Can you dig around and find out what has happened to HSG(97)47 in your
> area? This was the health service circular last year which mandated all
> Trusts and HAs to devise a strategy ensuring access for all NHS staff to
> library services (by autumn 1998). (should be able to get the text via the
> DoH website at:
> http://tap.ccta.gov.uk/doh/point.nsf). Maybe there's a lever for primary
> care in there somewhere (I haven't read it for a while and can't
> remember).
>
> Given that cooperation is the name of the game it might be worth,
> if you've
> any pilot money still unspent, approaching the Medical Librarian and
> offering to part fund some clerical support. This might call
> their bluff if
> the photocopying workload issue is not the real problem, and if it is then
> it might make everybody happy.
>
>
> Jonathan Hutchins, Library Services Manager
> Royal Surrey County Hospital
> Egerton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XX
> tel: 01483 464138 fax: 01483 576240
> ***************************************************
> So what? I thought. If we start electing
> presidents on tne basis of their sexual purity,
> some *real* monsters will get into the White House.
> (Hunter S.Thompson, February 1992)
> ***************************************************
>
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INFORMATION WITHIN THREE CLICKS!
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