[A message sent to Indian Association of Medical Informatics List] A library, be it traditional or digital, has a vital role to play inany institution. I need not emphasis on it here. "..what is alreadyclear is that libraries play a pivotal role in creating, providing,and maintaining long-term access to digital resources. Libraries ofall types actively promote and invest in networked-based programs andservices to ensure that all sectors benefit from meaningful access todigital resources and that importantly, these information resourcesare available to future generations.."[http://www.mlanet.org/government/appropriations/librarycongress.html][1] Role of Library and the Librarian in a Medical Institution can gobeyond its traditional functions. Some people believe that it can evenreduce medical errors.[http://www.healthleaders.com/news/feature1.php?contentid=38058. Thisis due the fact that Medical librarians have: [2]. * Formal knowledge of information resources and how to access them. * The ability to ensure that information is relevant and complete,by applying the formal rules of evidence to data retrieved and knowingstrategies to ascertain that a search is both efficient and thorough. * The skill to weigh conflicting information and reconciledifferences. * Training in critically reviewing published research and gradingthe levels of evidence. * The professional habit of making decisions based on evidencerather than opinion. * The ability to discriminate between types of information sourcesin terms of their currency, format, authority, relevance and availability. * A knowledge of copyright and intellectual property issues,especially with materials retrieved electronically. However, situation of most medical libraries in India is ratherpathetic as compared to academic and research libraries of otherdisciplines. This could be due to these factors: 1. Health being a State Subject and rather poor financial status ofthe States.2. UGC norms does not applies to most Medical Libraries (Hospital) andthus no mandatory Qualifications for Librarians.3. Librarians at low positions in such situations and Tradition ofProfessor - in - Library. The end result is that a library gets very limited resources. And whenit comes to Internet connectivity resources it is natural to "ignore"the Libraries. Improper connectivity coupled with lack of properknowledge of IPR issues may lead to Institutions forcing theLibrarians in indulging illegal and unethical practices. Some of these could be: 1. Photocopying, Binding and Maintaining copies of Books and Journalsburrowed from other institutions or its members.2. Retaining CDROM databases beyond their licensed period. 3. Printing On-line journals [free or fee based] and maintaining themin library for other members.4. Caching Online Websites and maintaining their archives in Libraries.5. Maintaining copies of Licensed Softwares. Now, who would be responsible if legal case is slapped? Definitely theHead of the Institution. We can always argue that copyright laws arenot balanced and always favor the publishing industry. But then, bybeing institutions, are morally and legally bounded by the law of theland. To avoid such unpleasent situations, it is the time to give dueimportance and resources to libraries. Now-a-days, with broad-bandbecoming a reality, It should be mandatory for libraries to InternetConnectivity atleast. In this Digital Era, can you think ofun-connected libraries? If connectivity is to established in anyinstitution, let it begin with library. Let the Charity begin atLibrary instead of Home. I would request the members of IAMI, to promote the development ofMedical Libraries so that all stake holders [Researchers/Practitioners/ Patients/ Administrators/ Publishers] benefit fromthese. It can adopt a resolution to press for: 1. Appointment and Qualified and Well-Paid Librarians in MedicalInstitutions [including hospitals]. With Librarians directlyresponsible to the Head of the Institution. 2. Higher allocation of financial resources to libraries. Investing inmodern digital library technologies.3. Support the Open Access[http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/brief.htm] moment as well asrespect the Copyright Laws. Open-access (OA) literature is digital,online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensingrestrictions. What makes it possible is the internet and the consentof the author or copyright-holder. References:1. Statement of Patricia A. Wand, University Librarian, AmericanUniversity on behalf of the American Library Association, Association of ResearchLibraries, American Association of Law Libraries, Medical LibraryAssociation and Special Libraries Association before the Subcommittee on Legislative, House Committee onAppropriations on the FY 2000 Appropriations for the Library of Congress 2. The Role of Medical Librarians in Reducing Medical Errors By J. Michael Homan, for HealthLeaders Online, September 16, 2002http://www.healthleaders.com/news/feature1.php?contentid=38058 Thanks,Sukhdev Singh.Competing Interests: 1. Associated with http://indmed.nic.in & http://medind.nic.in .2. Associated with yet to be released Open Access Project – OpenMED.3. One of the moderator ofhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/indmedtraining/