Assists Health
Professionals, Public Obtain Reliable,
Current Information

As Arizona's most extensive source of health sciences information, the Arizona Health Sciences Library has long supported widespread use of electronic tools to improve health sciences education, practice and research. Open 363 days a year, 24 hours a day, the AHS Library provides support to Arizona's health care professionals and the public through information services, collections, electronic networks, computing and outreach services.

Arizona's rapidly growing biotechnology industry also relies heavily on AHS Library collections to facilitate development of new products for hospitals, clinics and pharmaceutical companies. The Library is working toward a goal of delivering information directly to points of need - in hospitals, laboratories and offices for immediate use in research and patient care.

In 1993, the AHS Library served as a catalyst in bringing together the Arizona Health Information Network (AZHIN), a not-for-profit consortium of Arizona hospitals and educational institutions. Established with a $306,300 grant from the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation, AZHIN supports easy, inexpensive, uniform communication for information-sharing, collaboration, research, administration and education in the health sciences in Arizona. Many services and resources are available at the AHS Library. Listed to the right are a few of the most frequently used.

-By George Humphrey  

¨ The AHS Library has nearly 200,000 books and subscribes to more than 3,000 journals.

¨ Media collections include interactive video, slides, videotapes and computer-based resources.

¨ Historical collections include the archives of the Arizona Health Sciences Center and a growing number of documents about the history of health care and the healing arts in the Southwest.

¨ Online information includes computer databases for health professionals, patients and the public.

¨ Information about AHS Library services can be obtained by visiting the Library at 1501 N. Campbell Ave., by calling (520) 626-6125, or by visiting the Library's Web page on the Internet at http://aloe.ahsl.arizona.edu

¨ Services include: answers to reference questions; online literature searches; help in verifying and locating information resources; consultation in information access strategies; assistance in establishing or improving health sciences libraries; and training of health care workers in health information access. Arizona health care providers can reach Information Services staff at (520) 626-6125 (Tucson) or through the Library's web page, or via e-mail, refinfo@hinet.medlib.arizona.edu.

¨ The Library's online catalog (ALOE) may be accessed by computer at any time, anywhere in the state, by visiting the Library web page or by calling 1-800-999-1186.

¨ The Information Technology Center is the focal point for the Library's non-print collections, including computer-based learning programs.

¨ Workshops and classes familiarize users with computers and online searching. Staff provide library tours, database searching and library skills training, and information management instruction. Call (520) 626-2925 for information about training programs.