Poster Board Number: 129
Title: Information-seeking Behavior after the Closure of a Hospital Library: A Case Study
Objective: To determine the change in information-seeking behaviors among faculty and staff of a psychiatric hospital after the closure and relocation of the hospital’s library.
Methods: This case study is the result of a user survey conducted with faculty and staff of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). It examines their use of the library currently and prior to the closure and relocation of WPIC’s library. An original survey was developed for the purpose of this study and sent out via email to the faculty and staff of WPIC. Questions asked included demographic information, use of the physical library, use of electronic resources, and satisfaction with library services.
Results: Respondents to the survey comprised the faculty and staff of WPIC (n=105). Data were limited to respondents with knowledge of the library and who used the library and its services (n=79). WPIC employees used the library approximately once a month (M=1.20) prior to its closure and relocation. Faculty, residents, nurses, and clinicians/therapists used the WPIC library most often, with 45.5% rating their frequency of use as once a month or more. Current library use has decreased from once a month to approximately less than once a year (M=0.91). Those staff who have worked at WPIC between 2-5 years were more likely to use electronic resources more often than those who have worked there less than 5 years. Forty-three percent reported accessing electronic journals monthly, as well as accessing the library website weekly.
Authors: Mary E. Jones, Project Coordinator, Certificate of Advanced Study in Health Sciences Librarianship, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
