Digital collections: Acceptance and use in a research community

This paper cf escribes a project designed to capture evidence of changing a pproaches to identifying, locating, organizing, and producing scientific in formation in a university-based research community. Faculty in the basic an d health sciences were interviewed regarding their uses of electronic journ als. databases, and other digital resources to support their teaching and r esearch activities. The findings are intended to provide a better understan ding of scientists' use of digital collections for Librarians who acquire a nd manage research collections and who develop services to faculty and stud ents? especially those in pure and applied sciences. This knowledge should lead to better informed acquisition decisions and improved library services . The changing behavior patterns documented suggest emerging models of scie ntific communication as scientists begin to incorporate use of digital coll ections and information technology in innovative ways.