Subject expertise among MEDLINE searchers: results of a survey and analysis of job openings.

To determine the current demand for subject expertise among MEDLINE searchers, position announcements in the MLA News from January, 1981 to September, 1982 were examined. Of 125 reference/search analyst positions listed, 63 (50%) required or preferred a health sciences or related subject background. To ascertain how well the current medical library search analyst workforce meets these requirements of expertise 111 MEDLINE searchers were surveyed. Participants were queried as to the type of institution in which they were currently employed, searching experience, searching workload, educational background, and value placed on subject expertise in online searching. Differences were noted among the responses of hospital, academic health sciences, and corporate MEDLINE searchers.