OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken in order to determine how health sciences libraries in a ten-state region are using Loansome Doc, with an emphasis on whether this tool continues to be used to serve unaffiliated health professionals. Methods: Usage data were examined and health sciences libraries were administered a survey to determine how they are using this tool. RESULTS: Loansome Doc usage across libraries is low and declining, and a number of libraries do not serve unaffiliated health professionals with this tool. CONCLUSIONS: Use of Loansome Doc is low and declining due, in part, to license restrictions, declining interlibrary loan, and the prevalence of alternatives, such as OCLC ILLiad, for document delivery to affiliated users.
OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken in order to determine how health sciences libraries in a ten-state region are using Loansome Doc, with an emphasis on whether this tool continues to be used to serve unaffiliated health professionals. Methods: Usage data were examined and health sciences libraries were administered a survey to determine how they are using this tool. RESULTS: Loansome Doc usage across libraries is low and declining, and a number of libraries do not serve unaffiliated health professionals with this tool. CONCLUSIONS: Use of Loansome Doc is low and declining due, in part, to license restrictions, declining interlibrary loan, and the prevalence of alternatives, such as OCLC ILLiad, for document delivery to affiliated users.