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Joanne: I am also replying to the list, since there has been so much discussion about reporting structures in hospital libraries. I report to the Director of Medical Records, and am ambivalent about the situation. On the one hand, I feel that I should be reporting to either the hospital administrator or to to one of the assistant administrators; on the other hand, I am also dealing with personal chemistry here. I get along well with my supervisor, he is sympathetic to my needs in the library, and has always come to my aid whenever I ask for anything (such as additional support staff, a new updated computer, etc.). Each of the three assistant administrators (one for nursing; one for administrative services, such as lab, radiology, pharmacy, etc.; and one for finance) either uses the library very little, is indifferent to it, or doesn't have a wide enough scope of knowledge that could encompass the library world. My fear is that to report to one of them will mean that I will really get lost in the shuffle, even though I have moved up one level in the reporting structure. Quite honestly, if I felt that it would work to the library's benefit to move one level up, I would long ago have broached the issue. I agree with Sue Jagels comment about the new JCAHO standards, however. After seeing the draft, I can see that there really needs to be a whole new structure in hospitals that would include "information services." I think hospital librarians often feel as though they are the third arm that nobody quite knows what to do with. An "information services" division in the hospital could conceivably also help the various computer systems within my hospital link up to provide more efficient and extensive information. It could be very exciting. The library could become part of a hospital-wide network, not just a necessary but puzzling extra limb. I could go on. However, I would mention these changes in the JCAHO standards to your hospital V.P. This may be the way to go, and certainly makes more sense. I intend to mention the same on my end. Your comments inspired me. Kathy Martin Willamette Falls Hospital Oregon City, OR [log in to unmask]