Availability and accessibility of evidence-based information resources provided by medical libraries in Australia

Abstract

This article reports on the results of an exploratory survey of the availability andaccessibility of evidence-based information resources provided by medical libraries inAustralia. Although barriers impede access to evidence-based information for hospitalclinicians, the survey revealed that Medline and Cinahl are available in over 90% offacilities. In most cases they are widely accessible via internal networks and the Internet.The Cochrane Library is available in 69% of cases. The Internet is widely accessible andmost libraries provide access to some full-text, electronic journals. Strategies for overcomingrestrictions and integrating information resources with clinical workflow are being pursued.State, regional and national public and private consortia are developing agreementsutilising on-line technology. These could produce cost savings and more equitable accessto a greater range of evidence-based resources.