Claire Twose, MLIS¹, Susan Rohner, MLS², Kathleen Burr Oliver, MLS, MPH¹, and Nancy K. Roderer, MLS¹. (1) Welch Library, Johns Hopkins University, 1900 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-502-0490, ctwose1@jhmi.edu, (2) Lilienfeld Memorial Library, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N. Broadway 9th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205

The Johns Hopkins Population Center (HPC) is a multidisciplinary group of 53 faculty members who conduct research on diverse population issues. In 2004 the HPC began working with the Welch Medical Library to transform a print collection with traditional library service by developing and testing a new model of information services offering a digital library and liaison librarian services. Objectives of this new service model include: providing core resources through a digital library to researchers where ever they work; increasing collaboration between information professionals and population researchers; increasing accessibility to previously hard to find older materials, “gray literature”, and, eventually, offering technology to promote data sharing. From December 2003 to February 2004, liaison librarians interviewed many of the HPC faculty to obtain information about journal, database, book and data use and methods of staying current and obtaining needed resources. The Population Associates are drawn from across the University, represent 11 departments and one research center, have offices in three geographically dispersed locations on different campuses and undertake research in over 20 countries. The core set of resources and services identified through these interviews will form the nucleus of the digital library. This will include existing electronic resources plus previously unavailable material digitized by library staff and digital current awareness services. It may also include access to data sources previously maintained by individual researchers. Future evaluation will assess the impact of the digital library and liaison services on satisfaction, use and cost for both faculty and the library.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the process of building digitally based information services for population research.
• Describe the intellectual property issues associated with digitizing print resources.
• Define information services for population-based research.
• Identify core components of a digital library for population research
• Identify core resources identified by researchers in a population research center
• Identify software for presenting digital resources and services to population researchers.

Keywords: Population, Information Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.