Final Report to the CHLA/ABSC Board - May 1999

Summary of Activities of RSTF2 - May 1997 to May 1999

RSTF2 surveyed the CHLA/ABSC membership regarding resource sharing activities and needs during the Fall of 1997. The preliminary results of this research were published in BMC, v.19, no. 3 (Spring 1998). A poster session on this topic was presented at the CHLA/ABSC Annual Conference, June 1999, Ottawa/Hull and a full survey report and analysis was published in BMC, v.20, no.3 (Spring 1999).

A joint meeting was organized by RSTF2, involving representatives from the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) and the National Library of Canada (NLC), to identify the current status of resource sharing in Canadian health libraries. A summary of the discussion was published in BMC, v..19, no.4 (Summer 1998).

An RSTF2 Web page was developed and is available through the CHLA/ABSC Web site [/ OR http://www.med.mun.ca/absc/]. It provides an additional mechanism for communication and education of the membership on resource sharing issues and available resources.

In response to survey results, Judith Coughlin-Lambly developed a Z39.50 Fact Sheet, which is enclosed within this issue of BMC.

Furthermore, the RSTF2 represented CHLA/ABSC on the CISTI Health Science Information Sub-Committee, maintained a liaison with the CISTI DOCLINE Coordinator, monitored and identified current trends and issues in resource sharing, and developed recommendations which were presented to the CHLA/ABSC Board for the future coordination of resource sharing activities among Canadian health libraries.

Ongoing and Future Resource Sharing Concerns

Regarding the increasing availability of electronic journals, not only are there substantial technology and funding implications, some vendor licenses are particularly restrictive. Ongoing issues include:

• prohibition of third-party lending will impact document delivery activities for all libraries, and will be particularly problematic for the smaller health libraries
• access restrictions to a single building or institutional unit will present a major challenge for libraries supplying patrons at remote sites
• current environment finds libraries, publishers, and vendors in a transition from print to electronic formats

CHLA/ABSC should maintain representation on national resource sharing initiatives such as the Working Group, sponsored by NLC, to review the National Resource Sharing Initiative, the National Network of Health Libraries and the CISTI Health Science Information Sub-Committee.

In terms of technology and standards, the move to web-based DOCLINE will require education and support, continued education is required for Z39.50, and further promotion and education related to ILL protocols and MARC holdings statements is necessary.

Copyright remains an important issue and the continued requirement for local, provincial and national union lists should be examined with particular attention to the potential loss of unique collections in Canada, for example, the Canadian Nurses' Association Library; what can be done to ensure access to these collections?

Conclusion

We are pleased that the CHLA/ABSC Board has chosen to include the resource sharing mandate within a Board position, as per our recommendation. It is crucial that resource sharing maintains a high profile within CHLA/ABSC. As we also believe it is essential to ensure cross-country and cross-library representation, we would encourage the development of an "advisory group", perhaps beginning with all Chapter presidents, to ensure that the Board member is able to draw upon the expertise of all CHLA/ABSC members.