Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) new interdisciplinary Faculty of  Health Sciences houses a diverse set of researchers from the social, clinical, and lab sciences, as well as the humanities. “With such varied interests,” explains Megan Crouch, Health Sciences Librarian at SFU, “it can be difficult and expensive to build collections that meet everyone’s needs.”

While SFU had excellent library collections in the science, social sciences and humanities prior to the founding of the Health Sciences faculty, their clinical collections were less robust since there were very few SFU faculty in that area.

“Imagine having to build a health collection overnight for researchers accustomed to having access to information available at hospitals and medical schools," says Crouch. "Membership to e-HLbc offered SFU the ability to subscribe to crucial full text clinical collections quickly and affordably.”

With e-HLbc’s core suite of resources as a foundation, SFU has since developed a strong health sciences collection that meets the expanding needs of the University’s growing clinical faculty.

In particular, Crouch explains that having access to Ovid’s LWW Total Access Collection and Medline on both EBSCO and Ovid’s platform is a boon to her patrons. “First, the 300 full text journal titles that make up the LWW collection are amazing and something that would probably be unaffordable without a consortial discount.”

Second, while some find it odd to have access to the same database on two platforms, Crouch appreciates the logic of providing both to members. Ovid’s Medline platform is the one of choice for advanced researchers and clinicians, while undergraduates prefer EBSCO’s simple interface. “It’s cultural,” Crouch explains.

“Having access to MEDLINE on two platforms – Ovid and EBSCO – is fabulous. We can now meet the research needs and habits of both undergraduates and advanced researchers, without having to sacrifice the wants of one community for the other.”

As more clinical faculty join the SFU community, the collection needs will continue to grow. “It’s good to know that e-HLbc is there offering us more opportunities to license new health resources.”

Megan Crouch
Health Sciences Librarian
Simon Fraser University