Perceived Impact of Developments and Potential Increased Usage of Facilities

In Phase 1 of the project, 66.9% (125) of scientists claimed that they were comfortable (rated 4 and over on the five point scale) accessing electronic information, although a number relied on colleagues for help with infrequently utihsed programs and databases. By Phase 3, this figure had risen to 78.1% (146) as shown in Figure 16.1.1 and is apparent in all categories of staff as shown in Figure 16.1.2, reflecting scientists increasing use of and confidence in utilising electronic information sources. Furthermore, in Phase 1, 44.9% (84) of scientists claimed that information technology developments, such as electronic current awareness, MEDLINE CD database, use of EndNote for formatting of references for bibliographies of scientific papers, the Databases Service and the electronic requesting system for document supply, had already affected their information handling techniques positively (4 and over on the five point scale).

“It’s [current awareness service] changed completely my habits of information gathering. Three years ago I would have spent an afternoon in the Library. I now get my secretary to put everything on disc for me and I take it home to work on” (Phase 1 - senior laboratory scientist).

“ ... MEDLINE .... the way I do it now is completely different from the way I did it two years ago. I used to go to the Library and systematically look through all the journals. This way is more efficient” (Phase 1 - senior laboratory scientist)

“ ... CAS, electronic requesting ... it’s certainly impacted quantitatively. I’ve been able to access a great deal more information and that’s important ... thus I can access it quicker and much more conveniently” (Phase 1 - laboratory scientist)

“ ... current awareness and MEDLINE have changed my approach - I depend on both as first line resort before going to the Library” (Phase 1 - senior laboratory scientist) “ ... current awareness, electronic requesting and the Databases’ Service have completely replaced the way I get hold of things” (Phase 1 - graduate student)

“If I didn’t have current awareness or access to Databases Service, then I would have to go to the Library regularly to consult the journals which I don't do now. It has improved dramatically” (Phase 1 - clinical consultant)

“M EDLINE has had the greatest impact. I’d rather lose my car than M EDLINE!” (Phase 1 - senior laboratory scientist)

“ ... current awareness, CD MEDLINE and SciSearch on Databases Service., it is very difficult to manage without them now” (Phase 1- senior scientific officer)

By Phase 3, this figure had risen to 62.6% (117 - see Figure 15.4.1) and sources included the gopher and world-wide web developments, mentioned previously, with their accompanying access to vast Internet resources. This more pervasive impact is evident in all categories of staff except the clinical scientist group, where impact was sustained (see Figure 15.4.2).

“enormous impact” (Phase 3 - graduate student)

“major impact, saves time, so much easier to search and select” (Phase 3 - graduate student)

“made life easier and extra filtering of requests with abstracts” (Phase 3 - research fellow)

“more efficient, more directed and more extensive” (Phase 3 - senior scientific officer) “current awareness, SciSearch and e-mail have had a massive impact” (Phase 3 - laboratory scientist)

“extremely positive impact” (Phase 3 - senior laboratory scientist)

“not much impact over three years because already used Data-Star M EDLINE ” (Phase 2 - senior laboratory scientist)

“... impacted in a very big way - I ’m browsing less with journals and browsing with directed electronic searches more (Phase 3 - senior laboratory scientist)

“It’s totally changed the way I get my references. I wish this system had been around when I was doing my degree. It would have been a lot easier” (Phase 1 - graduate student)

“It’s definitely put me in touch with things I would never have seen otherwise” (Phase 1 - senior laboratory scientist)

“SciSearch and current awareness have had a major affect on information gathering. W e’ve changed the way the laboratory deals with information - it tends to be in the laboratory and on the Mac rather than trekking around. Only five years ago, we constantly used the Bodleian and Caims Libraries: it’s rare for anyone to use the Cairns now” (Phase 3 - senior laboratory scientist)

“It’s completely changed the way I do things. I spend much less time in the Library than I did before I came here - a combination of being able to do searches through MEDLINE, not in the Library, and having current awareness, which means that I don't have to browse every single journal in the Library” (Phase 3 - senior laboratory scientist)

“It’s totally revolutionised the way I work. In days gone by I used to book a session down at the Library. Now I’m rarely in the Library and the current awareness gives me portability as I download onto disc and view and select at home. There is no doubt that without you my hfe would be much more difficult. It’s fantastic” (Phase 3 - senior laboratory scientist)

“It’s made a vast difference in that information is brought to you almost rather than you having to go to it and you have access to more information electronically as there is a limit to the number of journals you can hold” (Phase 3 - senior scientific officer) “Over these past three years I’ve been moving towards using the electronic form (electronic browsing) as my main source of information. I think it’s a fantastic service” (Phase 3 - clinical consultant)

Among the factors mentioned for increasing their use of electronic information in Phase 1 were: increased user-friendliness of the central computer system (including a good graphical user interface for the LIS Databases Service); increased speed of performance of LIS software; more training and backup documentation for all software; the facility to access M EDLINE online via ICNet; access to other databases online such as INSPEC and Psychological Abstracts; connections to ICNet for those at units without access from their laboratories; more computers in laboratories to enable more frequent access to central system; availability of the full-text of journals online; and more information on what services were available. By Phase 3 some requests on this wish list had been fulfilled, for example, M EDLINE to the desktop via SilverPlatter’s ERL software, graphical user interface for all of LIS’ resources via the web software except the BASIS databases (in development with implementation of BASISWeb software), increased speed of performance of LIS software with two upgrades of the central computing hardware, connection of more sites to ICNet, more computers in many of the laboratories enabling more frequent access to the central system, and the availability of some online journals. However, by Phase 3 there were still demands for more computers in laboratories (reported examples include two machines between ten people in one laboratory and two machines between fifteen in another), more full-text journals, more information about what services are available, more training especially on the Internet resources and use of the world-wide web browsers, connections to ICNet for those units (or parts of units) still without them, restoration of ICNet links for one unit that had lost its link, and upgrading of remote login system so that scientists could access all ICRF information resources from home (this facility was introduced at the end of Phase 3 of the project).