20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

Is going digital what users want? Researches on the usage... 441than 10,000 active users of the library. The Library has provided access toelectronic information resources since 1999. There are 10 computers withaccess to the Internet and to databases for the users. At present the libraryoffers access to the following electronic resources: HINARI (since 2004),ProQuest (since 2006), EMBASE (since 2007), Ovid and ScienceDirect(since 2008). Every trimester the Library offers training sessions for userson the general use of the library and on the use of electronic informationresources. The staff of the library consists of 47 people, 41 of whom arespecialists.Our study focuses on user preference for printed or electronic resourcesand on the reasons for their preference and is based on the analysis of theanswers received through a questionnaire completed by the users of thelibrary mentioned above. 100 questionnaires were distributed at randomvia the library staff to users that had come to use the library resources in thereading room where the computers with access to electronic informationresources are also housed. There was a satisfactory reply rate of 77%.Analysis of the resultsMost of those who answered to the questionnaire are students (86%).We had answers from physicians (6%), from teaching staff (5%) and fromother users (3%).With reference to the frequency of usage of those information anddocumentation services provided by the library, most of those who answeredcome weekly (54%), then monthly (18%), daily (16%) and 1-3 times peryear (12%).These results show, as with the previous research, that despite the factthat they have access to all the medical electronic information resourcesmentioned, there are no significant changes in user behaviour and practice.Only 30% of the respondents came to the library to consult electronicresources, the majority (91%) still came to consult paper documents. Askedwhat medical information resources they consult at the medical librarymost frequently, the majority of participants in the research indicated paperdocuments (84%), with only 16% indicating electronic resources.There is a clear preference for paper information sources (62%), with29% preferring electronic information sources and approximately 9%preferring both types.Asked to specify the reasons for which they prefer paper or electronicinformation resources, the participants in this study that prefer the paperinformation resources indicated: it is easier to access and use them, and tolearn using them (40%), better information (19%), you don’t get so tired