BMA Library Online: library development of Web‐based services and resources
| Date | 01 January 1999 |
| Pages | 25-34 |
| Published date | 01 January 1999 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040708 |
| Author | Jane Rowlands |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
BMA Library Online:
library development
of
Web-based services
and resources
by Jane Rowlands,
BMA
Library
(Sub-
Librarian,
Database Services)
This paper discusses
the
development
of
Web
based services
and
resources
by
the
BMA
Library.
Web access
to the
library's MEDLINE
Plus service
has
been extended to include
Web access
to
the library's Dynix/Ameritech
catalogues
and
the introduction of a central,
public
Website.
The library has long focussed
on providing distance services to
a
widely
dispersed user
population.
In
using available
technologies
to do
this efficiently,
in
ways that
are most beneficial
for our
users
and
which
will allow a high degree
of
user independence.
The library's public
Website,
and
a private
staff
Website,
are
developed
and
maintained
by the library's
own
Web development team.
Future plans,
to add
further interactivity to
the
library's public Website
and
the provision
of
further Web-based services
and
resources
for
members,
are
also outlined.
Introduction
The British Medical Association (BMA)
is the
UK's professional association
for
doctors.
The
BMA library serves
the
members of the associa-
tion, now over 120,000 throughout
the UK and
overseas,
and
over
700
institutional members.
With such
a
widely dispersed user population
the
library has long focused
on
providing distance
services
for
members
by
exploiting available
technologies
to do
this
as
efficiently
as
possible,
in
ways that
are
most beneficial
for our
users
and
which offer
a
high degree
of
user independence.
Ultimately, making
the
most effective
use of
valuable staff resources.
The library
has
embraced
the
rapid growth
and
development of the Internet
and
Web-based
technologies
in
delivering services
and
making
resources available
to
both personal
and
institu-
tional members. First,
by
introducing Web access
for
its
"MEDLINE Plus" online database service.
Then,
Web
access
to its
Dynix/Ameritech cata-
logues
and the
introduction
of
a
central, public
Website
(a
sub-section of the main
BMA
Website)
plus private, staff Website.
Since October 1997 primary responsibility
for the
development of the library's Web pages
has
rested
with
a
Web development team.
The
team com-
prises eight, both senior
and
more
junior, members
of library
staff. The
leader of the library's team
liases with
the
wider BMA Web development
team. Responsibility
for
maintenance
has
been
shared among
all
members of
staff. The
library
supports
its own
local Novell network (attached
to
the main
BMA
network)
on
which
are
located
the
MEDLINE Plus
and
Dynix/Ameritech servers,
a
Web server,
ftp
server
and
listserv facilities.
For
an
interesting international comparison
see
details
of
Web
information services currently
in
development
at the
University
of
South Africa
Library1.
For
further discussion
of
applying
the
fundamentals
of
librarianship
to
designing
and
maintaining
a
library Website
see
also
an
article
by
E A
Cooper
in
Illinois Libraries2.
Web development team
The
Web
development team first
met for a
brain-
storming session
to
outline
a
basic structure
and
organisation
for a
central, public Website
and
private, staff
Website.
The
public site
to
operate
as
a focus
for
the delivery
of
Web based services
and
resources
to
members.
The
private staff
site
to
complement this
in
acting,
as far as
possible,
as a
"one-stop-shop"
for
staff information, training
and
development needs. Further meetings have been
used
to
agree responsibilities
for
individual
Web
projects,
to
review progress
and for
future plan-
ning.
Major issues that
the
team have needed
to
address
include:
•
The
overall design
of
the
public
and
private, staff Websites.
•
The
library's public
Web
pages have been
carefully designed
in
accordance with
the
house-style of the main
BMA
Website
(of
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