Like most other academic programs, libraries use measurements or rankings to compare with others in their peer group. In our case, we consider our peer group to be academic health sciences libraries serving the top ten NIH-funded research institutions. In 2007-08, the latest year for which we have comparative library statistics*, these top ten institutions were (1) Harvard University, (2) The Johns Hopkins University, (3) University of Pennsylvania, (4) University of California, San Francisco, (5) University of Washington, (6) University of Pittsburgh, (7) UCLA, (8) Duke University, (9) University of Michigan, and (10) Washington University in St. Louis.
In several areas, HSLS is #1. These include the number of library service hours: Falk Library is open 110 hours per week. HSLS librarians answered more reference questions (54,502) than any of the others. The number of questions we received and answered through email (5,923) was more than twice the number of any other peer library, a reflection of our widely dispersed user population. With 8,620 participants, we also had the highest attendance at classes and training sessions. The HSLS Web site was viewed nearly twice as often (15,692,396 composite page views) as any of the other library sites.
HSLS also ranks in the top three libraries in the number of professionals on staff (26), the number of available online tutorials (27), the number of document delivery and interlibrary loan requests filled (47,252), and the number of health sciences electronic monograph titles (2,838).
But numbers and rankings are only indicators; they don’t show the whole picture. You, our users, are top-ranked researchers, clinicians and scholars, and you insist on the best library services and resources available. Your high standards motivate our staff to try harder and achieve more every day.
With today’s challenging economic outlook, we will likely have to make difficult choices about collections and services. Your feedback and suggestions are appreciated. We remain committed to our mission of development and provision of the most innovative information services and resources possible.
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*Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries. 2007-08 Annual Statistics of Medical School Libraries in the United States and Canada. 31st Edition. Seattle, WA: The Association, 2008.