A review of electronic journal acquisition, management, and use in health sciences libraries

Abstract

Purpose: The paper describes patterns of electronic journal usage in health sciences libraries during the past decade.

Method: The paper presents a case study, documenting the pattern of acquisition, management, and usage at the Louis Calder Memorial Library of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Results: Health sciences journals were early to offer electronic alternatives to print. As a result, health sciences libraries, their patrons, and the public at large were early to embrace the new versions and continue to embrace the significant changes in scholarly communication they enable. Although the patterns of electronic journals among health sciences libraries and other special and academic libraries have similarities, they also have differences. Broad studies of electronic journals in non-health sciences libraries have been published, but a retrospective review of electronic journals in health sciences libraries has not.

Figure 1

Total electronic journals added, mean value, 1999–2002, across medical school libraries reporting Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) statistics

Figure 2

Louis Calder Memorial Library (LCML) journal subscriptions, 1999– 2002

Figure 3

LCML photocopies, 1999/2000–2003/04

Figure 4

Gate count, mean value, 1998/99–2002/03, across medical school libraries reporting AAHSL statistics

Figure 5

Usage of LCML electronic journals, 1999/2000–2003/04