Coping with a MEDLIB-L service outage.
OBJECTIVE
The study assessed the coping strategies of MEDLIB-L subscribers during an unexpected disruption in the list's service.


METHODS
An online survey of MEDLIB-L subscribers was performed following a six-day service outage in August 1999.


RESULTS
Respondents' information needs resulted in two distinct coping strategies. Subscribers without a recognized information need or an information need determined to be not pressing coped by waiting out the interruption. Subscribers with pressing information needs turned to alternative methods of resolving these needs.


CONCLUSIONS
While most respondents missed the list and the assistance that it provided, many did not feel that the outage required significant coping strategies. The outage was viewed as a "minor stressor" and did not require secondary-level assessment of the availability and suitability of alternative resources.
Brown
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CD
School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487, USA.
MacCall
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S
D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States