Library lists: core or apple?

Core lists for medical libraries are intended to offer a minimal coverage of the medical literature. But they have grave drawbacks: (1) The coverage of some specialties is so minimal in several well-known lists as to be misleading. (2) A small hospital lacking a specialist in a particular branch of medicine does not need a specialist journal in that branch. Such a journal is better borrowed from a neighbouring hospital where the appropriate specialist can also be consulted. (3) Many hospitals will stick only to the core list, leading to excessive uniformity across the country. What librarians should be offered is a list of about 300-400 journals from which to make a selection on the following criteria: (1) The preference of the doctors who use the library. (2) The availability of journals in neighbouring libraries. (3) The budget.