Expert searcher, teacher, content manager, and patient advocate: an exploratory study of clinical librarian roles

Abstract

Detailed role descriptions of clinical librarians embedded in patient care teams suggest possible new practices for existing clinical librarians, provide direction for training new librarians working in patient care environments, and raise awareness of the clinical librarian specialty among current and budding health information professionals.

One Institution's Experience in Transforming the Health Sciences Library of the Future

“…As health sciences institutions are transforming, the health sciences library literature has noted opportunities for librarians in new roles as liaisons and informationists; [1][2][3][4] in expanded roles as clinical librarians; 5,6 and as knowledge managers. 7 While roles are changing, the attributes librarians need to successfully engage in and navigate through the emerging health sciences enterprise are not that different from those highlighted in Rachael Anderson's 1989 Janet Doe lecture.…”

The Lived Experience and Training Needs of Librarians Serving at the Clinical Point-of-Care

“…Tan and Maggio used semi-structured interviews to identify a wide range of responsibilities including expert searcher, teacher, content manager, and patient advocate. 7 While focusing specifically on identifying actively performed roles, their results highlight many complexities of clinical librarianship. Similarly, Harrison and Sergeant documented great variability in the training and preparation of UK clinical librarians.…”

“…Similarly, Harrison and Sergeant documented great variability in the training and preparation of UK clinical librarians. 7, 8 …”

Every home should have one: the critical role of the research librarian

“…Clinical librarians assume many roles and responsibilities embedded within a wide range of activities, including expert searcher, teacher, content manager, and patient advocate. 1 The embedded roles of the clinical librarian are a feature common to other types of non-traditional research librarians, such as those who are part of a health sciences research team.…”