News #100 - From the Director


	No. 100		July/August 2000

From the Library Director

This is the first issue of the UAMS Library's newsletter which is being published only in electronic format. Publishing in electronic format instead of printed format is much cheaper and enables us to make the news available much more quickly. Anyone wanting to receive a notice when a new issue is available on the Library's web site can send a message to Amanda Saar (SaarAmandaE@exchange.uams.edu or 686-8517).

The Library's web site (www.library.uams.edu) has been redesigned and several new features have been added. Eric Dousay and other members of the staff have worked very hard for several months to complete the redesign. The new web site is a convenient way to access many of the Library's electronic resources and to access information about the Library. Please note that there is a feedback form in the "Forms" section which allows you to provide comments about the site and about other Library services.

As mentioned in the last issue of the newsletter, the Library will be cutting a significant number of journal subscriptions because of the critical budget situation. The list of potential cancellations is currently available on the Library's web site under "What's New" (www.library.uams.edu/whatsnew
/news/journals/jourcancl2.htm). Please review the list and give any input you might have about these titles to Mary Hawks (HawksMaryS@exchange.uams.edu or 686-6749) by August 28^th.

The Library's annual report for 1999/2000 is now available in the "About the Library" section of the Library's web site. Although budget cuts hampered the staff from fulfilling all of the objectives set at the beginning of the year, we still accomplished most of our objectives. The statistical summary of basic activities accomplished during the year is available at www.library.uams.edu/aboutlib/annualrpt.htm#_Toc40.

Highlights of other accomplishments during the past year include:

The implementation of the new library computer system, which includes a much-improved online catalog and circulation system;
The redesign of the Library's web site;
The addition of approximately 100 online journals in the Academic Ideal product;
The addition of another database (Health and Psychosocial Instruments) to the Ovid system;
The implementation of the ARIEL system, which allows many articles requested on interlibrary loan to be transmitted electronically, and which cuts the turnaround time by more than half;
The reorganization of the Library staff to increase efficiency of operations.

Not surprisingly, one of the most popular changes made during the year was the revision of the food and drink policy to allow drinks in covered containers to be brought into the Library.

MARY L. RYAN