Providing health information to the general public: a survey of current practices in academic health sciences libraries

zeA questionnaire was mailed to 148 publicly and privately supported academ ic health sciences libraries affiliated with Association of American Medica l Colleges (AAMC)-accredited medical schools in the United States and Canad a to determine level of access and services provided to the general public. For purposes of this study, "general public" was defined as nonaffiliated students or health care professionals, attorneys and other nonhealth-relate d professionals, patients from affiliated or other hospitals or clinics, an d general consumers. One hundred five (71%) libraries responded. Results sh owed 98% of publicly supported libraries and 88% of privately supported lib raries provided access to some or all of the general public. Publicly suppo rted Libraries saw greater numbers of public patrons, often provided more s ervices, and were more likely to circulate materials from their collections than were privately supported libraries. A significant number of academic health sciences libraries housed a collection of consumer-oriented material s and many provided some level of document delivery service, usually for a fee. Most allowed the public to use some or all library computers. Results of this study indicated that academic health sciences libraries played a si gnificant role in serving the information-seeking public and suggested a ne ed to develop written policies or guidelines covering the services that wil l be provided to minimize the impact of this service on primary clientele.