1. Health Library Partnerships – an overview
Lenny Rhine
Health Science Center Libraries
University of Florida
May 2004

2. Definition: ‘library partnership program’
Involves two libraries in the medical or health related fields with one located in an industrialized country and the other in a developing or transitional one
Fosters medical and health information access and exchange; can also include staff training
Involves the industrialized country’s institution in supplying material and/or funding or channeling funding from a supporting agency

3. NLM Library Partnership Programs – 2000

4. INASP Health Library Partnership Database – April 2004

5. # of respondents per survey
24 of NLM Library Partnership Programs Project (18 ongoing in 2000)
13 of 19 – INASP Health Links Partnership Database (all are current)
10 ongoing programs responded to both surveys

13. Correlations from Two Surveys
Approximately same number of active programs although the INASP partnerships had a broader geographic base (18 vs. 19)
In both studies, photocopying was the highest ranked activity (67% vs. 100%)
While the # of programs involved in staff training was similar (46% vs. 54%), the level of professional support was significantly higher in the INASP partnerships (33% vs. 100%)

14. Correlations Continued…
The % of formal agreements was the same (38%)
The total of informal and verbal agreements was more (46% and 57%)
The level of regular and supplemental budgeting were the same (46%) but ‘outside sources’ funding was significantly higher for the INASP partnership (17% vs. 54%)

15. Correlations Continued…
The key means of communication was ‘ ’ (75% and 92%) with none of the other means of communication being greater than 50%
Similarly, the key ‘factor for success’ noted was ‘ ’ (63% and 92%)
The INASP partnership noted staff interest (92%), WWW access (62%) and staff travel (54%) as being significant for ‘success’

16. Correlations Continued…
For ‘factors thwarting success’, the only variable ranked significantly by both groups was ‘availability of equipment’ (70% and 54%)
In the ‘wish to add’ category, the need for ‘permanent funding’ was ranked highly by both groups (70% and 54%) while the need for ‘improved WWW access’, ‘improved telecommunications’ and ‘more hardware and software’ were noted equally (31 to 45%)

17. Conclusions
communication and a reliable level of telecommunications are essential for the success of a program (impact of information technology…)
Staff training and interaction are key factors (includes utilization of information technology applications)

18. Conclusions Continued…
Many of the programs are based on the commitment of one or two individuals in the industrialized country institution
A significant number of projects do not have formal agreements or regular budgets
Many of the ‘intangible factors’ were not analyzed in the two studies

19. Conclusions (personal)
Develop a finite project and sustain it
Try to institutionalize the program
The individual and institutional rewards are infinite and not measurable

22. ICS Committee for Health Sciences Library Partnerships
Purpose:
to match libraries in developed countries with those in developing countries
Members:
Jie Li (chair) –
Marcus Banks -
Lenny Rhine –