Medical school libraries in the United Kingdom: some statistics for 1977

A postal questionnaire was sent to the librarians of thirty‐two medical schools in the United Kingdom. From this, information on twenty‐four (75 per cent) of their libraries was obtained and statistically analysed by computer. These statistics indicated that: medical students are generally better provided with library facilities than their non‐medical colleagues; medical schools in London tend to have library provisions inferior to those in the provinces; the impact of a changing curriculum on the library—and the library's need to respond—are recognized; and librarians are also aware of the increasing need to educate medical undergraduates in the use of a library and its resources. It is suggested that further research of the topic might be undertaken, with a different method.