ITM Library – Annual Report 2018

2018 was a difficult year for the ITM library. 3 library staff left us, 2 remain. Nevertheless we managed to maintain basic library services – like timely document delivery – and avoid unforeseen closing days or hours, which would not have been possible without substantial help of temporary staff and a job student. Other activities – such as validation of Pure records – suffered arrears, TropMed Central Antwerp was put on hold until better days, and management of the institutional archives was transfered to the Quality Service.

Luckily our biomedical literature resources remained at the same level, with thousands of E-books, tens of thousands of E-journals and dozens of bibliographic databases, all integrated in our ever improving EDS discovery service.

At the start of the year we launched a major ITM users questionnaire, resulting in feedback from over 100 satisfied patrons and a handful of rather disappointed customers. Also, an ad hoc library committee consisting of 12 stakeholders from the departments and other core customers met 5 times to discuss our future role within ITM research and education. Results were discussed in the Academic Council and recommendations were presented to the Director’s Committee, so we are looking forward to welcome permanent reinforcements – possibly in 2019?

Dirk Schoonbaert

2018 in Numbers

* Individual e-books in the library catalog, excl. open access e-books from e.g. WHO or NCBI
** SpringerLink medical and biomedical collections 2005-2010 and Ebsco Clinical Collection