People places revisited: guidelines for public library buildings (excerpt)

User needs

There has been a transformation from process and collection centred buildings to buildings which focus on communities and their needs. People are spending longer in libraries. Onsite use is outstripping growth in loans. People need a pleasant environment where they will feel comfortable. They may want to converse with each other: general noise levels are higher. Some people want a room of their own where they can discuss issues and work as a group. Others just want a quiet area to themselves where they can concentrate.

Inclusiveness is being addressed not just by resources and services but by environments with, for example, community art and public art integrated into building designs.  All age groups are represented among the people who are staying longer in libraries, so we need stroller space for children and electric cart space for the less mobile. In addition we have an ageing population and accessibility requirements will become more and more important. Many libraries have identified target groups whom they wish to engage, including young people, older men and nonusers generally, and are finding ways of appealing to them with programs or by generating visual appeal.

Problem-based Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Problem-based Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Ian A. Greer, Iain T. Cameron, Brian Magowan, Ralph N. Roberts and James J. Walker. 2003. Churchill Livingstone.

Total of 56 cases in 4 sections: Fertility and menstrual problems, General gynaecology, Pregnancy Problems, and Labour and delivery problems.  Each case starts with a 1-5 sentence clinical vignette. Subsequent questions address history taking, investigations, treatment options, etc over 2-4 pages. Discussion is to the point and of limited detail.

The authors point out that the modern medical curriculum has moved away from the traditional subject-based teaching to a problem-based or problem-oriented approach to learning, stimulating problem-solving skills. They indicate that the book will be helpful not only to undergraduates, nurses and midwives, but also postgraduates in their early years of training in obstetrics and gynaecology. The first 3 categories are likely to find the book useful but postgraduates could find the book a little too superficial for their needs.

This book has been borrowed only four times in the past year.

Research Methods for the Biosciences

Research Methods for the Biosciences. Debbie Holmes, Peter Moody & Diana Dine. Oxford University Press. 2006.

Intermediate level introduction to statistics for the biosciences. Authors state that the book is primarily written for undergraduates. An online resource centre is available. Chapter headings include:

Where do I begin?, Experimental Design, What to do with raw data, Hypothesis testing, Hypothesis testing: Do my data fit an expected ratio, Hypothesis testing: Associations and relationships, Hypothesis testing: Do my samples come from the same population, “Research, the law and you” and Reporting your Research. 381 pages.

Purchased in Feb 2008. Borrowed 4 times so far.

Practical Guide to Medical Student Assessment

Practical Guide to Medical Student Assessment. Zubair Amin, Chong Yap Seng, Khoo Hoon Eng. World Scientific Publishing. 2006.

Authors from National University of Singapore. Short book of 106 pages.  A simple practical reference to assessment instruments.  Divided in 4 sections: Principles and Purpose of Assessment, Assessment of “Knows” and “Knows How”, Assessment of “Shows How” and Assessment of “Does”. Each assessment tool is described in brief, together with a summary of advantages, limitations, evidence, suggested uses and references.

Good short guide to those new to medical education.

Purchased in Aug 2007. Only borrowed thrice so far.

Welcome to the IMU Library!

Welcome to the IMU Library blog! We will use this site to keep you informed of the learning resources available, new additions as they are added to the existing collections  and events that will benefit library users.

Please feel free to add your comments to these posts.