Timely Texts: 24/7

Abstract

Timely Texts, a technology project awarded in September 2004, provided Stauffer Health Sciences Library, Stormont-Vail HealthCare, the opportunity to offer and evaluate the impact of electronic textbooks within our institution. The Stauffer Library had recently undergone significant budget cuts and the possibility of adding new products or services that would increase the Library’s budget was not feasible. Timely Text provided the funding to purchase and add 23 online textbooks to the Library’s recently developed web page. The web page housed on Stormont-Vail’s intranet (SVnet), contained links to PubMed, CINAHL, a LWW online journals package, MedlinePlus and a few other free resources and links. The online textbooks would serve to enhance the Library’s electronic offerings, but more importantly, help bolster the image of the Library as an innovative player in health information and technologies. There was also the thought that online textbooks would possibly lead to cost savings as other departments would reduce their book budget lines.