Abstract
Purpose: Faced with resource constraints, many hospital libraries have considered joint operations. This case study describes how Providence Health & Services created a single group to provide library services. Methods: Using a holding group model, staff worked to unify more than 6,100 nonlibrary subscriptions and 14 internal library sites. Results: Our library services grew by unifying 2,138 nonlibrary subscriptions and 11 library sites and hiring more library staff. We expanded access to 26,018 more patrons. Conclusions: A model with built-in flexibility allowed successful library expansion. Although challenges remain, this success points to a viable model of unified operations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 315-319 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of the Medical Library Association |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Information storage and retrieval/statistics & numerical data*
- Libraries, hospital/organization & administration*
- Libraries, medical/organization & administration*
- Library collection development
- Library materials/organization & administration*
- Medical subject headings: efficiency, organizational*
- Organizational innovation
- Program evaluation
- Regional medical programs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Informatics
- Library and Information Sciences