scholarly journals Collection practices for nontraditional online resources among academic health sciences libraries

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Shultz ◽  
Donna R. Berryman
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Small Organizations ◽  
Development Section ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Collection Practices

Objective: In recent years, individuals and small organizations have developed new online learning and information resources that are often marketed directly to students. In this study, these nontraditional online resources are defined as apps or other online resources that are not available through large and well-known publishers. The purposes of this study are to determine if academic health sciences libraries are licensing nontraditional online resources and to provide a snapshot of current collections practices in this area.Methods: An online survey was designed and distributed to the email lists of the Collection Development Section of the Medical Library Association and Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries directors. Follow-up phone interviews were conducted with survey participants who volunteered to be contacted.Results: Of the 58 survey respondents, 21 (36.2%) reported that their libraries currently licensed at least 1 nontraditional online resource, and 45 (77.6%) reported receiving requests for these types of resources. The resources listed by respondents included 50 unique titles. Of the 37 (63.8%) respondents whose library did not license nontraditional online resources, major barriers that were noted included a lack of Internet protocol (IP) authentication, licenses that charge per user, and affordable institutional pricing.Conclusions: Evaluation criteria for nontraditional online resources should be developed and refined, and these resources should be examined over time to determine their potential and actual use by students. There is a growing demand for many of these resources among students, but the lack of financial and access models that serve libraries’ needs is an obstacle to institutional licensing.

scholarly journals It takes longer than you think: librarian time spent on systematic review tasks

2018 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystal Bullers ◽  
Allison M. Howard ◽  
Ardis Hanson ◽  
William D. Kearns ◽  
John J. Orriola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Library Directors ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Task Time ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Time Frames

Introduction: The authors examined the time that medical librarians spent on specific tasks for systematic reviews (SRs): interview process, search strategy development, search strategy translation, documentation, deliverables, search methodology writing, and instruction. We also investigated relationships among the time spent on SR tasks, years of experience, and number of completed SRs to gain a better understanding of the time spent on SR tasks from time, staffing, and project management perspectives.Methods: A confidential survey and study description were sent to medical library directors who were members of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries as well as librarians serving members of the Association of American Medical Colleges or American Osteopathic Association.Results: Of the 185 participants, 143 (77%) had worked on an SR within the last 5 years. The number of SRs conducted by participants during their careers ranged from 1 to 500, with a median of 5. The major component of time spent was on search strategy development and translation. Average aggregated time for standard tasks was 26.9 hours, with a median of 18.5 hours. Task time was unrelated to the number of SRs but was positively correlated with years of SR experience.Conclusion: The time required to conduct the librarian’s discrete tasks in an SR varies substantially, and there are no standard time frames. Librarians with more SR experience spent more time on instruction and interviews; time spent on all other tasks varied widely. Librarians also can expect to spend a significant amount of their time on search strategy development, translation, and writing.

scholarly journals Academic health sciences libraries and affiliated hospitals: a conversation about licensing electronic resources

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Allison ◽  
Bonita Bryan ◽  
Sandra G. Franklin ◽  
Leslie C. Schick
Keyword(s):  
Health Sciences ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Library Directors ◽  
Electronic Resources ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Electronic Information Resources

Objective: Libraries in academic health centers may license electronic resources for their affiliated hospitals, as well as for their academic institutions. This study examined the current practices of member libraries of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) that provide affiliated hospitals with access to electronic information resources and described the challenges that the libraries experienced in providing access to the affiliated hospitals.Methods: In September 2016, AAHSL library directors received an email with a link to an online survey.Results: By December 2016, representatives from 60 AAHSL libraries responded. Two-thirds of the responding libraries supplied online information resources to more than 1 hospital, and 75% of these libraries provided the hospitals with access both on site and remotely. Most (69%) libraries licensed the same resource for both the academic institution and the hospitals. Cost, license negotiation, and communication with hospital stakeholders were commonly reported challenges.Conclusion: Academic health sciences libraries with affiliated hospitals continue to grapple with licensing and cost issues. This article has been approved for the Medical Library Association’s Independent Reading Program.

scholarly journals Research engagement of health sciences librarians: a survey of research-related activities and attitudes

2016 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Lessick, MA, MLS, AHIP, FMLA ◽  
Carol Perryman, PhD ◽  
Brooke L. Billman, MA, AHIP ◽  
Kristine M. Alpi, MLS, MPH, AHIP ◽  
Sandra L. De Groote, MLIS, AHIP ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Research Engagement ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
Published Research

Introduction: The extent to which health sciences librarians are engaged in research is a little-studied question. This study assesses the research activities and attitudes of Medical Library Association (MLA) members, including the influence of work affiliation.Methods: An online survey was designed using a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions and distributed to MLA members. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, content analysis, and significance testing. The authors used statistical tools and categorized openended question topics by the constant comparative method, also applying the broad subject categories used in a prior study. Pearson’s chi-square analysis was performed on responses to determine significant differences among respondents employed in three different institutional environments.Results: Analysis showed that 79% of respondents read research articles at least once a month; 58% applied published research studies to practice; 44% had conducted research; 62% reported acting on research had enhanced their libraries; 38% had presented findings; and 34% had authored research articles. Hospital librarians were significantly less likely than academic librarians to have participated in research activities. Highly ranked research benefits, barriers, and competencies of health sciences librarians are described.Conclusions: Findings indicate that health sciences librarians are actively engaged in research activities. Practice implications for practitioners, publishers, and stakeholders are discussed. Results suggest that practitioners can use published research results and results from their own research to affect practice decisions and improve services. Future studies are needed to confirm and extend these findings, including the need for intervention studies to increase research and writing productivity.

scholarly journals Investigating the need for scholarly communications positions in Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries member institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Mears, MLIS ◽  
Sandra L. Bandy, MS, AHIP
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Discussion List ◽  
Scholarly Communications ◽  
Time Position ◽  
Communications Services

Background: The role of health sciences librarians has expanded in the scholarly communications landscape as a result of the increase in federal public access mandates and the continued expansion of publishing avenues. This has created the need to investigate whether academic health sciences libraries should have scholarly communications positions to provide education and services exclusively related to scholarly communication topics.Methods: A nine-question online survey was distributed through the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) email discussion list to gather preliminary findings from and opinions of directors of health sciences libraries on the need for scholarly communications positions.Results: The survey received a 38% response rate. The authors found that AAHSL members are currently providing scholarly communications services, and 46% of respondents expressed the need to devote a full-time position to this role.Discussion: Our survey reveals a juxtaposition occurring in AAHSL member libraries. While administrators acknowledge the need to provide scholarly communications services, they often experience budget challenges in providing a full-time position for these services.

scholarly journals The Medical Library Association Guide to Data Management for Librarians

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A. Wickline
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
National Library ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Hospital Environments ◽  
Data Life Cycle

Lisa Federer, AHIP, of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with authors from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and highly reputable universities, introduces readers to the theoretical and data life cycle aspects of data management and then offers practical examples from academic health sciences and hospital environments.

scholarly journals The role of subject knowledge in academic health sciences libraries: an online survey of librarians working in the United States

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Subject Knowledge ◽  
The Us

Introduction - Previous research suggests that Canadian academic health sciences librarians value knowledge of the health sciences and spend a considerable amount of time gaining and maintaining it. The current study replicates the earlier Canadian survey but employs a larger American sample to address three questions: Do academic health sciences librarians working in the United States find knowledge of the health sciences to be important, and if so, how do they acquire it? Do the attitudes of Canadian and American academic health sciences librarians differ with respect to subject knowledge? Methods - An invitation to participate in a Web-based survey was sent to 711 academic health sciences librarians working in the US; 154 participated. Results - Academic health sciences librarians in the US felt that keeping up with the scientific and medical literature was important to doing their jobs, although only 50% of respondents felt that a degree in the health sciences was somewhat or very useful. Discussion - Participating in professional organizations, visiting Web sites, and reading or browsing journals or magazines were rated by respondents as the best ways to become informed about the health sciences. Findings were similar to those of an earlier survey of Canadian academic health sciences librarians.

scholarly journals The tenth Janet Doe Lecture, a forty-year perspective: still relevant after all these years

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne J. Peay ◽  
Helen-Ann Brown Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
The State ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Current Health ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
The Future ◽  
Role Of Women ◽  
Distinguished Member

Erich Meyerhoff was an academic health sciences librarian and a distinguished member of the Medical Library Association when he was invited to present the Janet Doe Lecture in 1977. His lecture on the state of the association is considered one of the finest Doe lectures and is still relevant more than forty years later, not only from an historical perspective, but also for his projections for the future and his prescient comments about the future of hospital librarianship and the important role of women in the association. Key 1977 Doe lecture topics are reviewed and updated in the context of the current health sciences library environment.

scholarly journals Excel for data visualization in academic health sciences libraries: a qualitative case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Willie Zametkin LaPolla
Keyword(s):  
Data Visualization ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Educational Programming ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Current State ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Widespread Availability

Background: Data visualization is a growing topic of discussion and area of educational programming in health sciences libraries. This paper synthesizes information on eight institutions’ experiences in offering Excel-focused data visualization workshops with the goal of providing an overview of the current state of educational offerings in this area.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted by phone and email with librarians at institutions that offer Excel-focused workshops, which were identified by reviewing the websites of Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries members and the 2019 Medical Library Association annual meeting program.Results: Librarians from six institutions were interviewed, online class materials from one institution were reviewed, and information from the author’s institution was included, resulting in a total of eight institutions. Educational offerings in Excel-focused data visualization ranged from one workshop to five workshops in a series, which typically first presented information for beginners and then progressed to more advanced data visualization skills. Regarding motivations for offering these workshops, librarians stated that they were committed to providing instruction in software programs that were already familiar to users. Workshop evaluations, when available, were generally positive.Discussion: Because of its widespread availability and usage, Excel offers a compelling opportunity for providing hands-on data visualization instruction in health sciences libraries.

scholarly journals Measuring impostor phenomenon among health sciences librarians

2019 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Barr-Walker ◽  
Michelle B. Bass ◽  
Debra A. Werner ◽  
Liz Kellermeyer
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Impostor Phenomenon ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Impostor Feelings ◽  
Prevention Methods

Objective: Impostor phenomenon, also known as impostor syndrome, is the inability to internalize accomplishments while experiencing the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Previous work has examined impostor phenomenon among academic college and research librarians, but health sciences librarians, who are often asked to be experts in medical subject areas with minimal training or education in these areas, have not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to measure impostor phenomenon among health sciences librarians.Methods: A survey of 2,125 eligible Medical Library Association (MLA) members was taken from October to December 2017. The online survey featuring the Harvey Impostor Phenomenon scale, a validated measure of impostor phenomenon, was administered, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine relationships between impostor phenomenon scores and demographic variables.Results: A total of 703 participants completed the survey (33% response rate), and 14.5% of participants scored ≥42 on the Harvey scale, indicating possible impostor feelings. Gender, race, and library setting showed no associations, but having an educational background in the health sciences was associated with lower impostor scores. Age and years of experience were inversely correlated with impostor phenomenon, with younger and newer librarians demonstrating higher scores.Conclusions: One out of seven health sciences librarians in this study experienced impostor phenomenon, similar to previous findings for academic librarians. Librarians, managers, and MLA can work to recognize and address this issue by raising awareness, using early prevention methods, and supporting librarians who are younger and/or new to the profession. This article has been approved for the Medical Library Association’s Independent Reading Program.

scholarly journals External Reporting Lines of Academic Special Libraries: A Health Sciences Case Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy G. Buhler ◽  
Nita Ferree ◽  
Tara T. Cataldo ◽  
Michele R. Tennant
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Library Directors ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Academic Health ◽  
Changing Trends ◽  
External Reporting ◽  
History Of

Very little literature exists on the nature of external reporting lines and funding structures of academic special libraries. This study focuses on academic health sciences libraries. The authors analyze information gathered from statistics published by the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) from 1977 through 2007; an anonymous online survey of AAHSL library directors; and phone conversations with a select number of directors who were willing to take part in follow-up interviews. The history of changing trends in reporting lines over the years and a view of the diverse arrangements, including strengths and weaknesses, currently existing in academic institutions are examined.

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