The
Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7133 p144
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Society introduces new library service
for non-members |
`Society introduces new library service for non-membersImproved access for non-members to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s library services and facilities is among a number of changes recently introduced in the Society’s Information Centre. Access has been widened by introducing a “library subscriber” category of user, which for the first time allows non-members of the Society to be able to borrow library books and other related items. A subscription provides other benefits, such as discounted rates for photocopies (either by self-service or by post or fax) and for the centre’s range of bibliographies. Subscribers who visit the library also have free access to the reference and database facilities. Subscriber categories have been introduced for both individuals and corporate library users. Corporate subscriptions provide additional service benefits for two or more named individuals with a company address. The individual rate is for one user at their private address or where they work for a small company which has up to three employees. Non-members can still choose just to have reference and database use as previously or can now elect to have the additional facility of being able to borrow up to three books at any one time as part of their subscription. Details of all the subscription rates are available on request from the library. Book loans The number of books that Society members may be borrow at any one time has recently been increased from three to five. This increase has been made possible by better management of the whole lending process using the OLIB library management system, which has been fully functional since early in 1999. The library says that many members do not realise that book loans may be arranged not only during a personal visit but also by telephone, e-mail or fax. Books are posted free of charge to any address in Britain, but members must pay the return postage. Internet access Part of the library’s current objective is to measure demand for accessing and searching the library’s catalogue via the internet. The library asks that anyone interested in this service should e-mail library@rpsgb.org.uk to register their interest or requirements. They should indicate whether their interest lies solely in looking up which items the library holds or whether they are also interested in using the internet for loan and photocopy requests, loan renewals, database access or other library transactions.
Internet-based resources The Information Centre is now making more use of internet-based resources and web-based e-journals. Two internet-based products are now available to visitors to the library. One is Clinnix (formerly known as Healix) which is now web-based but continues to provide a rapid source of instant news headlines on a wide range of health issues, along with travel information, patient advice and health care directory information. Clinnix has extended its coverage of health intelligence to include clinical governance and clinical research plus a web portal to link directly to other health care information. The other product is CiteLine Professional, which is one of the new generation of internet research software products designed for health professionals and which allows access to systematically organised health related web sites.
Library sales The library is no longer able to sell to visitors any of the books published by the Pharmaceutical Press. However, members remain free to visit the library to inspect any of the current titles alongside all the other library items available for reference or for loan. Any members or other visitors to the Society’s headquarters who wish to purchase books will be directed to London bookshops that stock them. Alternatively they will be advised how to order books direct from the urgent action postal service of the Pharmaceutical Press. The library will continue to stock and sell the Society’s three pharmacy history titles -‘The bruising Apothecary’, ‘Pharmacy history: a pictorial record’ and ‘RPSGB 1841-1991: a political and social history’ - alongside the series of bibliographies prepared by the Information Centre, and all the merchandise produced by the British Society for the History of Pharmacy.
Fees The Information Centre has increased most of its fees by about 10 per cent in line with decisions taken by the Council on the Society’s 2001 budget. A schedule of fees is available on request. The new photocopy rates can be found on the Society’s website at www.rpsgb.org.uk. The increase in the self-service photocopy rates for members visiting the library is the first increase in nearly nine years. In addition, the library has introduced a series of fines for borrowers who do not return books from loan within the specified period. For the time being, fines will be levied only on overdue items borrowed by pharmacy students and preregistration trainees. The introduction of fines is expected to speed up the return of popular titles and thus reduce waiting lists for members. Review of information services Review of information services During the first half of 2001, the Society
is reviewing the full range of library and information services provided
by the Information Centre. The project is being carried out within the
remit of the Society’s Science Committee and guided by its chairman, Professor
Bill Dawson. |