Research Library

As the library enters the new millennium it is appropriate to review the status of the collection and its value to research at the Institute. This is not intended to diminish the importance of public services such as circulation and reference, but the research collection is the heart of the library. And it is in this area that the library can take great pride. Despite the move to the new building and the associated reduction in size, the library has been able to maintain the core of the collection. Most of the psychiatric, psychoanalytic, and psychology journals have been retained back to the early volumes, and the book collection includes most of the well known publications by historical figures in the field. Contributors to the psychiatric literature such as Kraepelin, Bleuler, and of course Freud, are well represented among the book collection. Any Institute researcher wishing to delve into the past or present of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, or psychology can usually locate the desired materials in the PI library.

The introduction of electronic journals, a development which is sure to be a major issue in the new millennium, has already altered the collection substantially. It is not known how great a percentage of the research literature will eventually become paperless. During the past year over one hundred psychiatry-related journals were published in digital as well as printed form, and the library made a major effort, spearheaded by Luis Minaya, to make the electronic form of these journals available to the clientele. This addition became one of the most popular innovations to the library's services, as readers no longer had to travel to the library to find journal articles which could more easily be printed or downloaded from office computers. Next year even more journals will be offered in electronic form, including publications from the American Psychological Association, and the library will make every effort to add these journals to its list of online publications.

In addition to adapting to the new trends in publications, the library found time to perform its more customary functions such as computerized literature searching, acquisition and cataloging of books and journals, and interlibrary loan. Computerized literature searching continued to be a heavily used service. An estimated 8,000 searches were conducted on the six work stations provided. The terminals were busy throughout the day and waiting lines were a common occurrence. The work stations were also busy during Saturday hours. Most literature searches were conducted on the familiar PubMed and PsychInfo databases, but users were also introduced to other valuable sources containing educational, statistical, and government-related information.

Interlibrary loans to other institutions have continued to be an important function of the library. Memberships in clearinghouse organizations such as the Medical Library Center of New York and the Northeast Regional Medical Library network have enhanced the library's visibility and have made the collection accessible to libraries throughout the country. Any library with a computer terminal and a subscription to the journal holdings microfiche of the Medical Library Center can request an interlibrary loan of a journal article and know in advance that it is in the library's collection. As a result, interlibrary loan statistics have risen this year to an all time high of loans supplied to other institutions. By participating in these programs, the library has taken advantage of an excellent opportunity to share its resources and contribute to scientific scholarship.

Library Records

Circulation
	Books	9,468
	Journals	12,121
	Total	21,589
Interlibrary Loan
	Loans filled for other libraries	7,259
	Loans requested by clientele	328