Digital Libraries in a Clinical Setting: Friend or Foe?

Abstract. Clinical requirements for quick accessibility to reputable, up-todate information have increased the importance of web accessible digital libraries for this user community. To understand the social and organisational impacts of ward-accessible digital libraries (DLs) for clinicians, we conducted a study of clinicians’ perceptions of electronic information resources within a large London based hospital. The results highlight that although these resources appear to be a relatively innocuous means of information provision (i.e. no sensitive data) social and organisational issues can impede effective technology deployment. Clinical social structures , which produce information - and technology - hoarding behaviours can result from poor training, support and DL usability.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2001
• Where: ERCIMDL
• Authors: Anne Adams, Ann Blandford
• Keywords: Accessible Digital Libraries, Digital Libraries, Education, ERCIMDL 2001, Ward-accessible Digital Libraries