Library Services

The Health Sciences Library provides a full range of library services for the medical staff, associates, and students of Saint Mary's Health Care. Those visiting the library will find:

Literature Search & Reference Services

The Health Sciences Library provides a number of resources to staff and students who wish to conduct literature searches on health and medical topics.  In addition, our professional librarians have many years of experience in finding the information our customers need.  You are welcome to stop in and discuss your research needs with a librarian, or call the library at (616) 752-6243.

Interlibrary Loans & Document Delivery

1. Requests for information to support immediate patient care take precedence over other requests.  To the best of our ability, we will provide same-day service from journals within our collections, or via e-mail/fax from another library.
2.  A self-service photocopier is available to staff and students for copying articles found in journals owned by the library.  A number of online journals are available through the hospital network; such articles may be printed from any library workstation.  Library staff will also photocopy articles as time permits, on a first-Document Delivery Guidelines 2003 come-first-served basis.
3. We encourage our customers to request articles using PubMed or Loansome Doc. Loansome Doc requests may be routed to the library using our LIBID:  MIUETR.  PubMed printouts may be left at the library desk;  faxed to us at (616) 752-6419; or e-mailed to hansonm@trinity-health.org .  Articles borrowed using PubMed and Loansome Doc are frequently available within one business day of the date requested. We can teach you how to use PubMed and Loansome Doc. 
4. We also accept printouts from other literature search sources such as CINAHL, Ovid, or FirstSearch as well as copies of reference lists/bibliographies from medical texts or journals. Customers may also choose to complete Interlibrary Loan Request forms at the library desk, if only a few items are needed.  Requests may be left at the library desk; faxed to us at (616) 752-6419; or e-mailed to hansonm@trinity-health.org . 
5. Requests for materials outside the health sciences field and for the loan of books from other libraries will require extra time for handling. Allow two weeks or more for delivery.     
6. Like many hospital libraries, we do not charge for interlibrary loan services.  We reserve the right to pass on per-copy fees levied by university libraries should the number of such items requested prove burdensome.
7. You may request e-mail or fax delivery of journal articles.  You may also pick up documents at the front desk of the library.  If other arrangements for delivery are required, please discuss this with library staff at the time you submit your article request.