| Based on the assumption that circulation is a valid measure of the utility of a library collection, this quantitative study evaluated the Inter-American Drug Documentation and Information Center's (IADIC) collection for verification that it met user requests during 1990-1993 and will continue to meet them. The evaluation method used was based on a comparison of subject headings.; IADIC is a special library housing drug and drug-related materials at the Organization of American States, Washington, D.C. IADIC was given the mandate to provide information on drug and drug-related topics to OAS member states.; IADIC is a repository for CICAD documents, national plans and programs, and legislation. A general collection of over 2,800 pieces was evaluated. It is a closed collection; materials do not circulate. Requested materials are xeroxed.; Demographics show that majority of requests came from the USA but these are on the decline. OAS increased its requests, with CICAD showing the greatest use.; The study analyzed 747 user requests and 113 surveys from 1990-1993. These forms were analyzed according to subject headings most frequently requested.; The potential future request survey used a checklist of most frequently requested subject headings. These were tallied by frequency of potential future use and compared to the collection analysis of materials available by subject headings.; The analysis of past requests showed that major subject headings requested were CICAD documents, prevention, use and abuse, and legislation. The future survey indicated that use and abuse, education, legislation and national plans would tentatively become major requests. The subject heading comparison showed that IADIC had ample materials which met requests and can continue to meet them. Therefore, this evaluative study provided verification that IADIC's collection fulfilled user requests.; This study occurred in a single special library with a drug and drug-related collection. Although results are not generalizable in terms of their substantive detail, the process described here can be utilized in multiple settings to ensure maximum fit between a library collection and ongoing user needs. |
