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Background: Estimates of burden of disease are important for monitoring population health, informing policy and service planning. Burden estimates for the same population can be reported differently by national studies [e.g. the Australian Burden of Disease Study (ABDS) and the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBDS)].Methods: Australian ABDS 2015 and GBDS 2017 burden estimates and methods for 2015 were compared. Years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) measures were compared for overall burden and 'top 50' causes. Disease-category definitions (based on ICD-10), redistribution algorithms, data sources, disability weights, modelling methods and assumptions were reviewed.Results: GBDS 2017 estimated higher totals than ABDS 2015 for YLL, YLD and DALY for Australia. YLL differences were mainly driven by differences in the allocation of deaths to disease categories and the redistribution of implausible causes of death. For YLD, the main drivers were data sources, severity distributions and modelling strategies. Most top-50 diseases for DALY had a similar YLL:YLD composition reported.Conclusions: Differences in the ABDS and GBDS estimates reflect the different purposes of local and international studies and differences in data and modelling strategies. The GBDS uses all available evidence and is useful for international comparisons. National studies such as the ABDS have the flexibility to meet local needs and often the advantage of access to unpublished data. It is important that all data sources, inputs and models be assessed for quality and appropriateness. As studies evolve, differences should be accounted for through increased transparency of data and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our library has previously investigated the potential impact the addition of contents notes on circulation. In a subsequent study, we found contents notes were the second metadata element most heavily linked to circulation (title was first). Since there has been a marked decline in the use of print resources at our library and a corresponding increase in digital resources, we wanted to know if the addition of contents notes to records for online streaming audio files would result in a similar increase in usage. After enhancing the records, we tracked usage for a period of three months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After embracing patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) models for e-books and publishing two articles on PDA, librarians at a small university wanted to investigate faculty attitudes toward e-books. Usage statistics showed heavy use of e-book collections, but information on faculty usage was merely anecdotal. A short survey was developed and sent to all teaching faculty in all disciplines to help Stetson University's collection development librarians match print and e-book selections to faculty preferences more effectively, thus increasing usage of titles purchased. Additionally, the results indicated whether faculty training was needed in the use of e-books. Preliminary data from faculty indicated that interest in e-books ranged from enthusiastic to uninterested. The majority of respondents were in the middle of those two extremes, expressing hesitant curiosity about e-books provided by the library. Most were interested in learning to use e-books, download them to mobile devices, and use them within learning management systems such as Blackboard. In the interest of promoting faculty collegiality, a strategic, personalized training program was developed to introduce faculty to features of library-provided e-books. This article presents the survey instrument, survey results, and summary of the faculty e-book training program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]