Collection of books for whom?

the loan and booking services in question

Abstract

The objective is to present the overview of loans and book reserves in the Health Sciences Library (BCS)/UFC over a ten-year period (2013-2023) and to point out the probable factors that led users to use or not use these services during this period. This is an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative and quantitative approach. The management reports of the UFC's Integrated Library System - Pergamum - were investigated. A random questionnaire was administered to users of the BCS. The number of books on loan and the return period at the UFC libraries were increased. The physical collection was last updated in 2014. Electronic books were purchased in 2010. The My Library e-book platform was subscribed to in 2022. From 2013 to 2018, BU/UFC's loans and reservations remained uniform, but from 2018 onwards there has been a downward trend. BCS/UFC has seen a drop in loans and reservations since 2013. Students revealed that they search for "free" books on the internet and on illicit digital platforms. The downward trend in the number of books borrowed by the BCS follows the trend curve of the Library System; there have been fluctuations due to the particular characteristics of the public served and actions initiated at the BCS. It can be inferred that the downward trend in loans and reserves in the UFC Library System, and consequently in the Health Sciences Library, has the following motivating factors: the use of new technologies, changes in  the rules for loans  outdated collections and the interruption in the provision of services, whether due to the COVID-19 pandemic or staff strikes.