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We have set up a Library users group for all those registered users who are able to provide us with an email address. Details on our website at <http://www.ex.ac.uk/library/eml/bulletin.html> If users do not have an email address but still wish to join, we help them set up a free web-based email with Hotmail, Mailcity or similar. We currently have around 400 members and it is growing daily as users become more IT aware and appreciate the benefits. It has proved particularly useful for off-site members working out in GP practices or the community. This group is used as a 2 way communications channel between us and the users - not for users between each other. It has proved really succesful in forging links with our users and making them feel an integral part of the Library service. It has been created as an offshoot from our Library registration files where users research and study interests are recorded. We are thus able to target the special interests of small groups of users - a new resource available for neurologists perhaps, or midwives. We also use the usergroup and registration files for managing and administering passwords for accessing databases and electronic journals or for notifying changes in methods of access to these. This can of course be done to the users collectively, or selectively. In addition we produce a frequent bulletin which is emailed to all members of the users group informing them of changes and developments within the library and new resources made available to them from our library website <http://www.ex.ac.uk/library/eml/> The website is itself a major component of the registration/users group/website upon which the electronic service to our users is based. The website provides the gateway to accessing all the resources - databases, ejournals, catalogues, journals holdings etc. There is also a facility from the website for accredited users to register online, giving them automatic membership of the users group. Because the majority of our users are still not members of our users group, we also archive recent issues of the emailed bulletin on our website where it can be viewed or referred back to by all users. <http://www.ex.ac.uk/library/eml/bulletin.html> This has definitely been a very worthwhile undertaking for this library and has greatly enhanced awareness of our services, forging good links with our users. We've still got a long way to go to make everyone aware of what we can offer, but we are certainly getting there. Think it through carefully before starting out and be prepared for it to take a considerable amount of time. It will certainly generate lots of enquiries. Jill Maxted ..................................... On Tue, 12 Dec 2000 09:43:19 +0000 "Colchester General Hospital, Library" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hello > > We are thinking of setting up a user group to give us feedback and a > better idea of user needs. Has anyone had any experience in setting one > up in their own library? What sort of response did you get from users? > What format does the group take? Am grateful to hear good and bad > experiences! > > Apologies for cross posting. > > Steph Picton > Stephanie Picton > Assistant Librarian > North Essex Hospitals' Library & Information Service > Colchester General Hospital > Turner Road > Colchester > Essex > CO4 5JL > T: (01206) 742146 or 742396 > F: (01206) 742107 Jill Maxted (University of Exeter) Exeter Medical Library, Postgraduate Medical Centre, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW. Tel. 01392 403002 e-mail [log in to unmask] VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.ex.ac.uk/library/eml/