Five hundred and twenty three references on “Hospices” which were referred in NLM Literature Search No. 79-8 and No. 84-4 were analyzed. These references were published from January 1966 to February 1984.
The following results were obtained:
1) There were 238 serial journals and there was no core journal concerning “hospices”
2) 238 serial journals were published in 17 countries under 523 titles, of which 162 journals (68.06%) and 361 titles (69.03%) were found in the U. S. A.
3) 238 journals were classified under 32 subjects by the NLM classification, of which the most frequent one was “Medical Science-Nurses and Nursing” (57 journals 23.94%, 147 titles 28.11%)
4) The number of journals on “Hospices” has been increased markedly from 1976 to 1979, and thereafter has been increasing gradually.
5) Of the major descriptors, 189 were selected and the most frequent descriptor was “Hospices” which was given to 395 under 523 titles (75.53%).
6) Of the number of major descriptors, two were most frequent and given to 205 titles.
Of the number of “All” descriptors six were most frequent and given to 95 titles.
7) Of the major descriptors, “Hospices” was more frequent than “Terminal Care” or “Hospitals, Special”.
8) Of the subheadings which were given to the major descriptor “Hospices”, the most frequent one was “Organization & Administration” (124 citations).

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The psychological journals listed in the Union List of Scientific Periodicals in European Languages and Journals cited by Japanese psychological researchers are analyzed. The results show that 624 journal titles are distributed in Japanese libraries, but there is an imbalance of titles according to the library and district. From the results of the t test, there is also a significant difference in the citation pattern between psychological researchers who corporated to libraries with a large number of titles and researchers who corporated to libraries with a small number of titles.

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In the interlibrary loan activities of the Japan Medical Library Association (JMLA), it is emphasized that the lending libraries should be equalized, on the basis of the principle of give-and-take. However, the Annual Statistics of JMLA, which show the concentration of requests in the large libraries, have not been examined sufficiently.
In this paper, the author points out the following;
1) the Annual Statistics contain the number of requests by nonmembers;
2) the excessive service to JMLA non-member libraries and the work load inequality among the JMLA network are not necessarily justified by the high number reported by the Annual Statistics report;
3) the problems of quantity in interlibrary loan activities should be discussed on the basis of the actual number from the viewpoint of achieving social responsibility achievement;
4) the Annual Statistics reduce the reliability of other national statistics.
In conclusion, it is proposed that the Annual Statistics urgently need improvement in the understanding of the present circumstances and overview of the future of the JMLA.

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