RESUMO
In all the hospital library standards, as well as in the existing Accreditation Norms for hospitals, a section is included which cites the distinct professionals who work at the institution which the library services must attend to provide for their scientific information needs. Among the sanitary collectives, nursing professionals are explicitly listed. Nonetheless, since the creation of hospital library services in Spain, many librarians have noticed that the nursing professionals, which compose the most numerous group in a hospital, have a very low library visitation rate in relationship to other collectives such as doctors in particular. Desiring to have objective data regarding library use, and not merely perceptions, the authors planned out a study in a large, 1.200 bed, hospital where more than 1.000 professionals comprise the nursing staff. The authors wanted to verify the nursing staff's needs for scientific information, their habits regarding their scientific information needs, and the possible difficulties which they encounter trying to acquire this type of information; furthermore, the authors wanted to know the nursing professionals' attitude towards this issue.
