Few studies have examined how veterinary practitioners seek and use information. Two older studies from the US and UK found that practitioners extensively used journals, books, and consulting other vets but did not heavily utilize libraries or online databases. A more recent small UK study found that digital sources had made little impact, as only 10% were aware of electronic resources. New information technologies like email lists and electronic journals could change how vets access and interact with information. However, more research is needed to understand how veterinary surgeons currently seek and use electronic information in their private practices.

1. Emerging information networks: how they are changing practice Tom Roper, Librarian RCVS Wellcome Library Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

2. Paucity of knowledge few studies on practitioners and their information seeing behaviour some work at undergraduate level, but not scaleable to the “ real world ” one US study, one British Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

3. Pelzer and Leysen eight years old, US, and before the Internet explosion didn ’ t use veterinary libraries, university extension services, online databases did use extensively journals, books, and other practitioners Pelzer, Nancy L and Leysen, Joan M Use of information resources by veterinary practitioners Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 1991 79(1): 10-16 Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

4. Bawden and Vallely small survey (100 practices surveyed, 57 returned questionnaires) “ digital sources have made little impact ” (only 10% aware of electronic resources such as CABI databases) Bawden, D and Vallely, C Veterinary information: sources and use Aslib Proceedings 1996 48(11/12): 266-70 Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

5. The possibilities of the new media the world information market E-mail discussion lists: collaborative working electronic journals: few are truly web-based greater flexibility of use: electronic documents can be manipulated and interrogated in many more ways different media: video, audio, virtual landscapes Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

6. No talking in the digital library? how does one talk in the digital library? how to conduct the reference interview? is the digital library merely a passive warehouse of navigable information? navigation collaborative browsing support Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

7. No talking in the digital library? (2) paper versus electronic: study of medical students using CD-ROM and paper versions of a textbook:(Oxford Textbook of Medicine 2nd ed) information seeking strategies: highly dynamic moved between browsing and direct retrieval difficulties with query language reactive to information extracted Nicholls, J, Howes, M and Jones, R Information -seeking behaviour using paper and electronic versions of a textbook http://lethe.leeds.ac.uk/staff/NicholsJ/paper/iee/ Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

8. No talking in the digital library? (3) support: how to support the remote networked user: Highlands and Islands Netskills Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998

9. A modest proposal research into the electronic information seeking behaviour of veterinary surgeons in private practice: level 1: broad survey of a sample level 2: in depth study of fewer volunteers partners: BLRIC, library and information schools Emerging Information Networks: how they are changing practice BSVAA Congress 3 April 1998