The Medical Library Association Benchmarking Network: results.
OBJECTIVE
This article presents some limited results from the Medical Library Association (MLA) Benchmarking Network survey conducted in 2002. Other uses of the data are also presented.


METHODS
After several years of development and testing, a Web-based survey opened for data input in December 2001. Three hundred eighty-five MLA members entered data on the size of their institutions and the activities of their libraries. The data from 344 hospital libraries were edited and selected for reporting in aggregate tables and on an interactive site in the Members-Only area of MLANET. The data represent a 16% to 23% return rate and have a 95% confidence level.


RESULTS
Specific questions can be answered using the reports. The data can be used to review internal processes, perform outcomes benchmarking, retest a hypothesis, refute a previous survey findings, or develop library standards. The data can be used to compare to current surveys or look for trends by comparing the data to past surveys.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of this project on MLA will reach into areas of research and advocacy. The data will be useful in the everyday working of small health sciences libraries as well as provide concrete data on the current practices of health sciences libraries.
Dudden
Rosalind Farnam
RF
Gerald Tucker Memorial Medical Library, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. duddenr@njc.org
Corcoran
Kate
K
Kaplan
Janice
J
Magouirk
Jeff
J
Rand
Debra C
DC
Smith
Bernie Todd
BT
D019985:Benchmarking / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007996:Library Associations / Q000592:standards*; D009862:Online Systems; D012015:Reference Standards; D018401:Sample Size; D014481:United States