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Background: To compare the library’s health information service usage area and customer topics with the hospital’s reasons for hospitalizations to examine commonalities and explore potential growth opportunities within the community. Case Presentation: Researchers partnered with the hospital for this project. IRB approval was received. Researchers gathered the health information service’s 2022 data, which was de-identified. Data analyzed included zip code and customer topics, which were coded according to the hospital’s business line, which was defined as why a patient was hospitalized or used the ED.  The health information service’s business lines were compared with the hospital’s business lines. Lastly, researchers also reviewed the hospital’s targeted zip codes to see if those overlapped with the top zip codes that utilize the health information service. The top zip codes that used the library’s health information service were 37920, 37918, 37917, 37919, and 37876. Usage of the health information service varied across zip codes and topics. The most requested topics for the health information service and reasons for hospitalizations/ED visits were General Medicine in three of the five zip codes. Based on the data’s results, librarians performed outreach to organizations in the targeted zip codes to increase visibility of the library’s services. Conclusion: The reasons people requested health information from the library aligned with hospitalizations and ED visits in most of the zip codes. Providing further outreach to the hospital’s targeted zip codes will benefit both the hospital and the library by increasing usage of the health information service.

On the occasion of the Medical Library Association’s 125th Anniversary, four librarian leaders with a combined 105 years of engagement in MLA collaborated to reflect on the changes in our profession and our association. We draw on an examination of the last 25 years of the MLA Janet Doe Lectures, our own personal histories, and scholarship we produced for MLA publications and presentations. We offer this compilation as an invitation for readers to reflect on their experiences of changes within the profession, inspiration to engage in the issues around our place in society, and a source for additional exploration into researching and learning from our collective history.

Considering that there is a lack of evidence regarding the contribution of library and information services to evidence-based medicine in actual clinical practice in Japan, the purpose of the study is to explore the current status of use and value of library and information services in clinical settings to examine the usefulness of information in implementing evidence-based medicine (EBM) into practice. A Web-based survey was conducted at seven sites (hospitals with 300-1,200 beds) and interviews conducted at five sites to investigate information behavior among health professionals (physicians, residents, and nurses) in 2016, replicating the Value Study carried out in the United States in 2010 and 2011. Using a critical incident technique, respondents answered questions about their information topics, information resources used, search location, access points, and evaluation of the information. Analysis from 598 valid responses (275 physicians, 55 residents, and 268 nurses) revealed the characteristics of information use and recognition of the value of information. Physicians and residents showed their information needs regarding clinical care using PubMed (80.4%, 65.5%), Ichushi-Web (61.8%, 63.6%), and UpToDate (40.4%, 65.5%). While physicians rely more on electronic journals (37.8%), residents use more hybrid resources including Japanese print books (38.2%) and online books (30.9% for Japanese, 32.7% for English) to confirm their knowledge. Nurses need more information close to patients and explore a wider variety of information resources such as Japanese print books (60.4%), Ichushi -Web (40.3%), Japanese online books (20.5%), and websites of academic organizations (19.0%). Although the overall recognition of the value of information was relatively modest, concrete changes in clinical practice were found in some areas. Environments with insufficient information and availability of electronic resources should be improved to increase the use of library and information services for implementing EBM.

The purpose of the survey is to ascertain health science library professionals about their knowledge and skills in professionals development in enhancing their knowledge in day to day their work environment. 218 questionnaire were administered personally and 183 dully filled in questionnaire were received with response rate of 84.94% and were considered for analysis. The study findings that The male professionals in the first three categories are shown as between 70-85% and the highest is in the Pharmacy institutions. The Age group 36-40 has in total 54 (29.51%) of all the professionals taken together. The data reveals that 175 (95.63%) have stated in positive that the participation helps them to update their knowledge and skills. It is found 90.71% professionals attend and participate in the Seminars, conferences and the number of conferences attended during last five years are 78(42.6%) with 1-5 of such meetings and 69(37.7%) for the frequencies 6-10.

Objectives: Access to high-quality information improves the quality of patient care, but lack of time and sufficient skills in information seeking can prevent access to information by clinicians. To solve this problem, clinical informationists can provide high-quality, filtered information for clinical team members. This study identified the core competencies that clinical informationists need to effectively fulfill their roles on clinical teams.Methods: Participants were selected purposefully from clinicians and medical librarians. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.Results: The authors identified six competencies—communication, research, education and training, domain knowledge, information services, and technology—which together were used to develop a “CREDIT” model of core competencies for clinical informationists.Conclusions: The CREDIT model can be used as criteria for evaluating the performance of clinical informationists as well as for developing and assessing clinical informationist educational programs and curriculums. This article has been approved for the Medical Library Association’s Independent Reading Program.

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. 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 open-ended 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. 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. 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.

Background: Over a decade ago, the Hill report argued that a shift in vision was required to change the perception of National Health Service (NHS) Library and Knowledge Services (LKS) in England from “book repositories” to essential services that underpin clinical decision-making by patients, carers, and health care professionals. Health Education England’s Knowledge for Healthcare: A Development Framework for Library and Knowledge Services in England 2015–2020 advocates embedding librarians within clinical and management teams in order to provide access to high-quality evidence at the point of need.Case presentation: In April 2019, Royal Papworth Hospital relocated twelve miles from its historic village location in Papworth Everard to its new state-of-the-art hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The design for this new hospital did not accommodate a traditional library space and therefore necessitated a transformation of the LKS. The organization opted to embed the LKS staff into the clinical setting and relegate 80% of the print collection to off-site storage. This project and its associated steps are presented as an example of health care library transformation.Conclusion: Embedding the LKS team in the clinical setting, engaging in proactive outreach activity, and improving our marketing led to a 44% increase in literature searches requested compared to the same eleven-month period in the previous year. A 40% decrease in our print book loans indicates additional barriers to using a click-and-collect service and the need for greater investment in our e-book provision. However, early outcomes for our best-fit service transformation are positive. Having an open, dual mindset has enabled the service to embrace change and maximize emerging opportunities to collaborate with clinical staff on new projects.

Objective: The investigation sought to determine the effects of a clinical librarian (CL) on inpatient team clinical questioning quality and quantity, learner self-reported literature searching skills, and use of evidence-based medicine (EBM).Methods: Clinical questioning was observed over 50 days of inpatient pediatric and internal medicine attending rounds. A CL was present for 25 days and absent for 25 days. Questioning was compared between groups. Question quality was assessed by a blinded evaluator, who used a rubric adapted from the Fresno Test of Competence in Evidence-Based Medicine. Team members were surveyed to assess perceived impacts of the CL on rounds.Results: Rounds with a CL (CLR) were associated with significantly increased median number of questions asked (5 questions CLR vs. 3 NCLR; p<0.01) and answered (3 CLR vs. 2 NCLR; p<0.01) compared to rounds without a CL (NCLR). CLR were also associated with increased mean time spent asking (1.39 minutes CLR vs. 0.52 NCLR; p<0.01) and answering (2.15 minutes CLR vs. 1.05 NCLR; p=0.02) questions. Rounding time per patient was not significantly different between CLR and NCLR. Questions during CLR were 2 times higher in adapted Fresno Test quality than during NCLR (p<0.01). Select participants described how the CL’s presence improved their EBM skills and care decisions.Conclusions: Inpatient CLR were associated with more and improved clinical questioning and subjectively perceived to improve clinicians’ EBM skills. CLs may directly affect patient care; further study is required to assess this. CLs on inpatient rounds may be an effective means for clinicians to learn and use EBM skills.

In this profile, Lisa K. Traditi, MLS, AHIP, Medical Library Association president, 2020–2021, is described as an individual with a bright personality, rich professional experiences, and a natural ability to lead. She is a respected mentor in the medical librarianship field, especially in the realm of evidence-based medicine instruction and education. Traditi has spent the past twenty-six years at the Strauss Health Sciences Library at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Considered as the earliest form of embedded librarianship, a clinical librarian service/program involves the provision of information directly at the point of care. Being at the place where patient care is being delivered, the clinical librarian can provide specialized and timely information to health care professionals. Numerous studies on the potential, benefits, and effectiveness of clinical librarianship have been published. However, its practice and implementation in most hospitals around the world, especially in the Philippines, is not yet prevalent. This case study describes the experiences of a clinical librarian in a critical care unit of a private tertiary hospital in Quezon City from 2013 up to 2018. Roles and activities performed by the clinical librarian in the neurocritical care unit are presented. Recommendations on establishing a clinical librarian service, particularly in the Philippines, are discussed.