Trichomonas vaginalis virus: a review of the literature.

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is a parasitic protozoan responsible for the sexually transmitted infection trichomoniasis. Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV) is a nonsegmented, 4.5-5 kbp, double-stranded RNA virus, from the Totiviridae family, which inhabits TV. A capsid protein consisting of 120 subunits is covered in channels aiding in RNA release. TVV is closely associated with the Golgi complex and is transmitted vertically. TVV has four subspecies, TVV1, TVV2, TVV3, and TVV4. The clinical significance of TVV and its effect on the pathogenicity of TV is not well known. We performed a systematic review of the literature on TVV to better understand its clinical significance and its role in the pathogenesis of TV.

Electronic reserves: copyright and permissions.

Electronic reserves present a new service option for libraries to provide needed materials during hours that the library is not open and to user groups located some distance from library collections. Possible changes to current copyright law and publishers permissions policies have delayed the development of electronic reserves in many libraries. This paper reviews the current state of electronic reserves materials in the publishing and library communities and presents the results of a survey of publishers to determine permissions policies for electronic materials. Issues of concern to both libraries and publishers are discussed.

Implementation and evaluation of information desk services provided by library technical assistants.

Changes in the role of information services librarians and in the health care environment have required a rethinking of the provision of reference services at the University of Illinois at Chicago Library of the Health Sciences. This is a report of a new service offered after that analysis. An information desk staffed by twenty-five library technical assistants was established. Details of staff training, scheduling, and data gathering for this new service are provided. After eight months of operation, an evaluation of services provided by the Information Desk was conducted. A combination of evaluation methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, has been used to determine overall staff performance. Results from analysis of service statistics, structured observations of real-time services operations, and questionnaires distributed to information services librarians and to patrons are presented. The findings from this study are discussed in terms of comparison with similar studies in other libraries and identification of future research studies. The results confirm the value of the Information Desk and support the decision to continue this service model.

Library instruction for medical students.

The library instruction program for medical students at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences is described. This instruction program, which was developed in cooperation with the medical faculty, is included in the College of Medicine curriculum. Library instruction is presented sequentially at scheduled times during the four-year curriculum when students need specific information. The development, implementation, and evaluation of the program are discussed.

Library instruction within the medical record administration curriculum.

A course for medical record administration (MRA) students has been developed at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences Library. The course's objectives are: (1) to train students in the use of the resources and services of health sciences libraries and (2) to provide basic instruction in the organization, operation, and management of a small hospital library. These objectives are met by integrating library use instruction within the MRA curriculum and by presenting a five-week hospital library management workshop. Library use instruction includes a library orientation and sessions on the use of major reference sources, writing for publication, and the use and evaluation of the medical record literature. The workshop covers the role of the medical record administrator as manager of the hospital library. Sessions cover basic principles of hospital library administration, technical and public services, and sources of outside assistance. Results are reported of a survey of graduates conducted to determine whether a need for the course still existed and if the changes made as a result of the evaluation process were appropriate. The teaching methods and evaluation techniques used in this course are applicable to library instruction in other disciplines.