RESUMEN
The public services divisions of forty-seven medical school libraries participated in a survey to document jargon used by library staff and users in referring to information sources in the health sciences. The survey yielded 624 unique instances of jargon, 54% of which were acronyms of initialisms. Examples of problems created by the use of jargon are given and the importance of the librarian as a facilitator of communication, even in the presence of automated information systems, is discussed. Implications of the study for novice librarians are suggested. The body of jargon appears to serve as an effective cross-professions communications device.
Asunto(s)
Bibliotecas Médicas , Terminología como Asunto , Catálogos de Biblioteca , MEDLARS , Facultades de Medicina , Descriptores , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Based on submissions from forty-seven geographically representative medical school libraries, the authors have compiled a glossary of jargon used in medical school libraries in the United States. This glossary will serve as a unique reference tool of particular use to the novice medical librarian.