Fyra forskares informationsförsörjning och bibliotekets roll i denna process
en fallstudie på AstraZeneca R&D i Lund
InformationsförsörjningFöretagsbibliotekBibliotekens rollDocumentationInformationLibrary scienceArchivisticsArkiv- och bibliotekskunskapDokumentationSocial Sciences
Information is essential in order for pharmaceutical companies to be successful. This essay focuses on the information provision of pre-clinical scientists at AstraZeneca R&D Lund, and the role of the company library in this process. In semi-structured interviews, four pre-clinical scientists were asked to describe their information provision regarding what type of information they need, how they find it and what sources of information they use. Four librarians from the company library were also interviewed to give their perspective on the information provision of pre-clinical scientist. The study also aimed at comparing the image of the process as described by the scientists themselves and the librarians. The result of the interviews regarding what type of information is needed and used corresponds with previous studies described in the literature available scientific journals, conferences and personal contacts are the main sources of information. The scientists do most of their information seeking themselves, a process that has been made easier by information technology. Regarding the role of the library, it appears the scientist think of the library mainly as a physical room. They speak of the information seeking expertise of the librarians, but the main focus is on the print journals available in the actual library room. Even though the interviewed scientists mention that the library holds training courses, and that the librarians can help with information searches, they are still worried that the library will cease to exist if print journals are exchanged for electronic ones. Thus, there seems to be a need for the librarians to make their users more aware of what services they can provide apart from making print journals available. Comparing the image of the information provision of pre-clinical scientists given by scientists and librarians, no big contradictions appear. Naturally, the scientist know more about their working situation and the librarians know more about what services the library provides. Also the librarians know more about information provision in general terms, since it is part of their profession. One of the interviewed librarians made a remark worth quoting - It looks easier than it is.