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Introduction.
Frik Scott Library is the Medical Library of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, Free State Province in South Africa. It is situated in the Medical Faculty on the Campus of the University.

History.
When the Postgraduate Planning Committee started paving the way for a medical faculty in Bloemfontein, the establishment of a medical library was one of their early objectives. This collection, in time handled by Dr F.P. Scott, came into being in the National Hospital. After the green light was given to establish a medical faculty on 6 June 1969, Old Mutual donated an amount of R62 000.00 to the UFS on 13 October to build up a medical library.

The University Council decided on 17 March 1970 that a branch library under the control of the University library should be established for the Faculty. The branch library, with the Postgraduate Planning Committee collection of books as its core, was temporarily placed in the old Occupational Therapy recreation hall (Wards 29/30) in the National Hospital, and on 1 July Miss M. Genis, professional officer, became the first Head. Dr D. Rossouw, Mrs Z. Fonternel. Miss M. Hills, Mrs T. Venter. Mrs H. Lombard and Miss R. du Plessis succeeded one another as Heads of the library, until Mrs R. le Grange, the present Head, was appointed in 1975. In the same year the library moved to more spacious facilities in the evacuated grocery store of the National Hospital, but could move in September 1976 to its striking permanent home in the D -Block of the new Faculty building wth its foyer opening out from the marble foyer. Through the mediation of Prof. F.P. Scott (Vice-dean, Head of the Department of Dermatology) the well-known artist, Cecil Skotnes, placed an unusual artwork in the library: a plaster carving, the full height of the space, against the four sides of the central lift and stair shaft, that portrays humans' search for wisdom.

After the death of Prof. Scott in 1976 the library was named after him and on 12 October 1977 his widow, Mrs Dora Scott, unveiled a bust of the late Prof. Scott (presented to the Faculty by the sculptor, Gerhard de Leeuw), in the foyer of the library.

Highlights through the years
In 1973 this was only the second library in the country to obtain direct access to the unique computerised database of the SAIMR. In 1983 satellite libraries were opened in the Pelonomi and National Hospitals, but the service was never satisfactorily utilised and was closed in 1990. In 1987 a computer terminal was installed to enable library staff to do information searches for users. Computer laboratories now enabled students to cope with advanced academic studies. Medinfo, developed since 1993, enables the library to provide medical information at lay level to the community, thereby being of service mainly to primary health care workers. This service, unique in South Africa, will be extended nationally. Gradually making information available via the Internet and other electronic techniques had made great strides.

Electronic access control ensures that the library remains exclusive to medical information seekers. To summarise, it may be argued that the Frik Scott library is regarded as one of the best medical libraries in the country.