Changing tasks in the Central Library, University of Veterinary Science, Hungary

Abstract

A substantial change has been going on at the Central Library of the University of Veterinary Science since the introduction of electronic information services in the mid-eighties. From 1986 to 1991 the number of online searches had been growing rapidly as the number one player in both retrospective and current awareness information services. From 1991 onwards, CD-ROM databases have taken over gradually the leading role in electronic services, primarily due to financial reasons. This change has lead to higher number of searches but to perhaps inferior search results because of inexperienced users and limited scope of available databases as compared to online availability. To overcome partially the difficulties of users, a 16-hour training course was organiized for undergraduate and postgraduate students, to train them to the efficient use of both bibliographic databases and the Library's own information system.