The effect of CD-ROM MEDLINE on online end-user and mediated searching: a follow-up study.
Indiana University School of Medicine Library (IUSML) has traditionally been a high volume searching institution. The dramatic effect of CD-ROM on online end-user searching and the negligible effect on mediated searching was reported in an earlier study. This follow-up study reveals that the proportion of mediated searching has been drastically reduced from 94% in 1986/87 to 39% as of November 1989. Mediated searches are declining in absolute numbers as well. End-user searching, by contrast, has increased by 54% percent over the previous year. A related trend is the increased use of CD-ROM by the librarian as an alternative to mediated online searching. These trends are expected to continue as IUSML expands its CD-ROM operation to include other databases. As mediated searching declines, the librarian's role will increasingly include end-user training.
Brahmi
F A
FA
Indiana University School of Medicine Library, Indianapolis 46202.
Tyler
J K
JK
D016251:CD-ROM; D003200:Computer User Training; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007196:Indiana; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016239:MEDLINE; D014584:User-Computer Interface