Service to the Lay Public IV. What Service Do We Now Give the Lay Public?

摘要

The Library of the Los Angeles County Medical Association has basically the same responsibility as every other library: to assemble and to provide information as widely and freely as possible. This function is subject to certain inherent restrictions. As a medical library, we have books and journals of a highly technical nature with questionable value to the average lay person. In fact, it may often be quite dangerous to allow the untrained reader to diagnose and treat his illnesses and those of others. Imaginary physical and mental conditions are easily caused by seeing them in print when insufficient general knowledge is prevalent. In the second place, the nature of our work requires that we be able to provide to the medical profession a personal, comprehensive, and rapid service. We must at times set aside all other work to furnish quick information, even on an obscure subject, when it is needed in a critical situation. By concentrating on this particular function, we feel that we render a much greater service to the general public.