HSLI President, Fran Kovach, M.L.I.S, is the reference and education librarian at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
Here is a greeting to wish everyone a new beginning as spring arrives and winter departs. Also, as we celebrate National Library Week April 10 – 16 think about how we can prove our value as medical libraries and librarians. Illinois Snapshot Day April 13, shows how our libraries make a compelling impact in our communities. Visit the website for ideas of how to collect statistical data, photographs, videos, etc. for the day. Furthermore, using this data develop convincing arguments to influence lawmakers to keep funding intact.
A new study is underway, the Value of Library and Information Services in Patient Care Study to understand the value of the health library, information services and the librarian. The study will investigate 1) the use and value of the print and electronic resources provided by the library and 2) the information services (mediated or assisted information requests/searches) provided by the librarian that aid in the clinical decision-making. The Value Study is a partnership of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The Impact on Patient Care summarizes Value statistics of the Rochester study (Marshall, 1992). An article, Value of hospital libraries: the Fuld Campus study (Cuddy, 2005) is also a study on the contribution to patient health care.
Another bibliography is the Value of Library and Information Service a Bibliography/Webliography by VALINET, VA library net. Recently, ACRL published the Value of Academic Libraries Report: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report (Oakleaf, 2011). The report is a review of the quantitative and qualitative literature, methodologies and best practices currently in place for demonstrating the value of academic libraries. By applying these best practices, we must endeavor to be invaluable.
Finally, click here to watch a video I created about the value of medical librarians.