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Results from the HIPNet Library Survey Conducted in 2006

For circulation to the HIPNet members and participating libraries - FINAL VERSION

July 31, 2006

In the summer/fall of 2005, the Information & Knowledge for Optimal Health (INFO) Project coordinated a mass mailing of materials produced by HIPNet members to medical and public health libraries in developing countries.  INFO then conducted a voluntary survey to solicit feedback from these libraries.  We are now happy to share the results with you.

HIPNet materials in both English and Spanish were sent to 477 libraries in 64 different countries.  Of those libraries, 69 responded to the survey, a response rate of 15%.  The 75 respondents represented 25 countries.  For this summary, responses to the English and Spanish surveys have been combined.

The libraries serve a variety of institutions, including universities, medical, nursing, and public health schools, as well as hospitals or health centers, NGOs, and government agencies.  They also serve a range of patrons; some receive as few as two patrons per week, some as many as 2,000.  Patrons request materials on many subjects.  The most frequently requested topics are family planning/reproductive health (79%), HIV/AIDS and other STIs (79%), environmental health (70%), maternal and child health (67%), infectious diseases (67%), adolescent health (65%), and gender and health (57%).  The least requested topic is population law and policy (28%). 

Most of the libraries have internet access available for patrons.  Seventy-three percent of the 66 respondents who answered this question reported having internet access available for patrons. 

Respondents prefer receiving materials primarily in English (65%) and Spanish (52%), although a small percentage (7%) prefers materials in French or other languages (10%).  The majority of respondents also prefers to receive materials in paper form (89%) or in CD-ROM form (87%), although a significant percentage prefers materials as electronic documents (44%) or in DVD form (43%). 

Of the 63 respondents who answered this question, most people first learned about the HIPNet mailing through an e-mail from HIPNet (38%).  Others learned of it through a letter from HIPNet (19%), a colleague’s referral (14%), or through other sources (29%).

Of the 68 respondents who answered this question, 81% reported receiving the shipment of materials from HIPNet.  Fifty-four out of 56 people (96%) reported that the materials they received were in good condition.  Most people (93%) had no problems getting the materials through Customs.

The majority of the respondents who answered this question (88%) reported having already added the HIPNet materials to their library’s collection.  Nineteen percent of libraries have already contacted one or more of the organizations whose materials were included in the HIPNet mailing to request other materials or more copies of materials.  All 67 respondents want to receive similar materials from HIPNet in the future.

Another HIPNet mailing is planned for fall 2006.  Materials will be in English, Spanish, and French and printed surveys will be included in the mailings.  The following questions will be included in the survey:

  1. In what country do you work? (Check one)
  2. What type of institution does your library serve? (Check one)
    1. NGO or nonprofit
    2. College/University (general)
    3. Government agency or ministry
    4. Hospital or health center
    5. Medical/Nursing/Public health school
    6. Other
  3. How many patrons visit your library in an average week?
  4. What specific topics do your patrons request materials on most frequently? (Check all that apply)
    1. Family planning/Reproductive health
    2. HIV/AIDS and other STIs
    3. Maternal and child health
    4. Environmental health
    5. Infectious diseases
    6. Adolescent health
    7. Gender and health
    8. Population law and policy
  5. Does your library have internet access available for patrons?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  6. In what language(s) do you prefer to receive materials? (Check all that apply)
    1. English
    2. French
    3. Spanish
    4. Other
  7. In what format do you prefer to receive information? (Check all that apply)
    1. CD-ROM
    2. Paper/Printed document
    3. DVD
    4. Electronic document (PDF or HTML)
  8. How did you first learn about the HIPNet mailing? (Check one)
    1. E-mail from HIPNet
    2. Colleague’s referral
    3. Letter from HIPNet
    4. Other
  9. Did you receive the shipment of materials from HIPNet?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  10. Were the materials in good condition?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  11. Did you have any problems getting materials through Customs?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  12. Have you added the materials to your library’s collection?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  13. Have you contacted any of the organizations whose materials were included to request other materials or more copies?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  14. Do you want to receive similar materials from HIPNet in the future?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  15. Do you want to receive regular email notification of new publications?
    1. Yes
    2. No