Steve Hiller, Science Libraries, and Carla Rickerson, Special Collections and Preservation
Exit surveys conducted during Spring Quarter, 1996, at the UW's five busiest libraries (Business Administration, Engineering, HSLIC, OUGL, and Suzzallo and Allen) revealed that the UW Libraries is indeed a very popular place. More than 100,000 people per week visit these five libraries. While most of these users are UW students, the 10% who are not affiliated with the University represent 10,000 visits per week.
This number of non-affiliated users is not surprising given that the UW Libraries is the most comprehensive library system north of Berkeley and west of Chicago. A number of fine libraries provide services within the region, but none has the breadth and depth of the UW Libraries. Also, while the collections and services are focused on the UW community, the Libraries has a tradition of serving the larger public.
Non-affiliated users actually visiting the campus represent just a portion of those outside the UW community who benefit from the UW Libraries. Many users access services delivered remotely through computer networks, telephone and mail. During the 1995-96 fiscal year, non-affiliated users personally checked out 60,000 items from the Libraries. At the same time, the Libraries' Resource Sharing Service, which provides access to the collections for remote users, filled 27,501 requests from within Washington state, 12,293 from within the Pacific Northwest region, and 21,634 requests from outside the region. (See accompanying article for more survey results.)
Service Policy Outlined
As the Libraries strives to make the UW Libraries user-centered for both affiliated and non-affiliated users, one of the main tasks has been to clearly define services. In November of 1995, the Libraries issued a Service Policy for the University of Washington Libraries that describes the services available to visitors to the UW Libraries. Library Guide 20a outlines these services. The guide is available at the reference desks in the Libraries, and on request from the Public Services Office, Libraries Administration, Box 352900, Allen Library, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2900.
Many services may be used by off-campus visitors, including in-library use of most materials, limited access to library computers, quick reference service, and selected library classes on a space-available basis. Hours of reference assistance vary, and visitors should consult individual units about the availability of such services before coming to the Libraries.
In addition, some special services are available for users with extensive library needs.
Patent and Trademark Searches
The Engineering Library offers the resources for library visitors to conduct their own patent and trademark searches. There is no fee for this service. For more information, call (206) 543-0740 or e-mail englib@u.washington.edu.
Research Express provides research, referral, and current awareness service; translation, patent and trademark, and grant funding searches; loan of books and photocopies from both UW and non-UW collections; database training; and other services on request. Fees are charged on a cost-recovery basis.
Phone: (206) 616-4838
E-mail: resxp@u.washington.edu
Health Information For You (HIFY) provides customized services tailored to individual health information needs, including research database searching, training and photocopy/lending services. Fees for services are computed on a cost-recovery basis.
Phone: (206) 685-4170
E-mail: hsl@u.washington.edu
The mission of the UW Libraries is to improve the educational, research, and service programs of the University through the dissemination of information. In this capacity, the Libraries' main objective is to meet the research and curricular needs of the UW community. Visitors are asked to utilize the resources of their local libraries prior to making use of the UW Libraries, but the Libraries plans to remain a vital community resource for all.