Search

The academic library of "Hochschule für Gesundheit (hsg)", which was founded to form a branch of academic health professionals within the German health supply system in October 2009 in Bochum, shaped a "library development plan" in the beginning of 2010 as a strategic frame for elaborating the services but also including the hurdles and barriers and therefore reasons for changing some decisions. The plan is permanently communicated to university bodies, protagonist scientists and students. Furthermore an online user satisfaction and interests survey concerning collection, usability, web service and library building was initialized as an additional data fundament. Users also can give personal feedback because of the immediate vicinity to the library. A special services newsletter, which was launched after the survey, subject database analysis for scientists as well as curricular and individual library training courses (information literacy program) also preserve approach to the customers. After initial problems a high-quality collection of still important printed material as textbooks and research books together with e-books and e-Journals was built up. Databases are offered by DBIS and the federative medical search engine Medpilot of the "Zentralbibliothek für Medizin, Köln". Thus a strategic subject search is possible. By establishing the open source library management system Koha embedded in a resource discovery system (RDS) context the quick access to the up to 40,000 volumes limited print collection plus lots of electronic resources through an integrative user interface is achievable. As to the diversity of user groups web portal solutions for students (Moodle), academic staff, external users or corporate clients have to be considered. Library building with furnishing and basic technical devices, library user regulations and workflows are further strategic steps on the way to develop a normal academic library and a special library for the health sciences within the concept of the "Gesundheitscampus Bochum". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article undertakes a critical look at ongoing library trends and developments. At the same time it attempts to analyse the specifics of medical special libraries and to map out alternative strategies based on individual approaches at the Medical University Graz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]