Extending medical librarians’ competencies to enhance collection organisation

Abstract

Background Like many health library associations, the Medical Library Association (MLA) developed competencies guiding lifelong learning and competence for medical librarians. Medical librarians should be able to develop skills in identified areas. One MLA indicator of organising resources defines expert skill as the ability to develop classification and metadata schemes for unique collections. Objectives This manuscript reviews available curricula for selected library programmes in the United States and Canada, along with professional development and informal opportunities for skill development to identify how medical librarians, who are not experts in cataloging or metadata and not employed as cataloging or metadata librarians, can progress in competency. Methods The authors reviewed library school and continuing education programming around metadata, along with answers from a pre‐existing informal poll regarding cataloging and metadata roles in health sciences libraries. Data were collected and examined using descriptive statistics. Discussion Gaps and opportunities for education around organising resources are discussed, including library school courses, formal continuing education opportunities and informal learning (e.g. peer support networks, on‐the‐job learning). Conclusion Education in organising resources should be created throughout the educational journey of librarianship. Continuing educational opportunities in organising resources should be created by professional organisations that expect competency in this area.

Importance of Including the Role of Clinical Medical Librarian in Library and Information Science Curriculum Development: A Review

“…Clinical librarians are underemployed in hospitals due to a lack of institutional roles (Beschnett & Bulger, 2013;Butson & Pauly, 2013;Cooper & Crum, 2013) Inadequate direction and management authority (Phillips & Bonsteel, 2010;Aldrich & Schulte, 2014;Bayrer et al, 2014;McDonald et al, 2014;Perrier et al, 2014) Financial and budget issues (Aldrich & Schulte, 2014;Bayrer et al, 2014;McDonald et al, 2014;Perrier et al, 2014) Lack of sustainability and success of clinical library programs (Aldrich & Schulte, 2014;Bayrer et al, 2014;MacDonald et al, 2014;Perrier et al, 2014) 04 Technological Scarcity of computer hardware and software (Aldrich & Schulte, 2014;Bayrer et al, 2014;McDonald et al, 2014;Perrier et al, 2014) The dearth of evidence-based databasesand access to evidence-based databases (MLA, 2005;Beschnett & Bulger, 2013;Butson & Pauly, 2013;Cooper & Crum, 2013;Cruse & Protzko, 2014;Aldrich & Schulte, 2014;Bayrer et al, 159 No. Barriers/challenges for CMLs involvement Examples 2014; McDonald et al, 2014;Perrier et al, 2014;Murphy & Boden, 2015;Dilhani et al, 2020;Bass et al, 2020;Hackstadt, 2020;Hinrichs et al, 2020;McLaughlin, 2020;Tahmasebi et al, 2020) Slow Internet connectivity…”

“…Research There are only a few studies on this topic (lack of identified issues and requirements, limited proposed solutions, and lack of evaluation methods for clinical library services). (MLA, 2005;Beschnett & Bulger, 2013;Butson & Pauly, 2013;Cooper & Crum, 2013;Cruse & Protzko, 2014;Aldrich & Schulte, 2014;Bayrer et al, 2014;McDonald et al, 2014;Perrier et al, 2014;King & Lapidus, 2015;Murphy & Boden, 2015;Mohaghegh et al, 2019;Dilhani et al, 2020;Bass et al, 2020;Hackstadt, 2020;Hinrichs et al, 2020;McLaughlin, 2020;Tahmasebi et al, 2020) By highlighting the need for CMLs role in the country, Importantly, in healthcare service delivery, now it is the EBM gaining popularity in the practice of Medical Professionals where evidence is integrated with clinical practice. In this context, health/medical information professionals are much recognized.…”

Competencies of a Bibliographer: Continuity of Development and Break Points

“…профессиональных задач -предмет обсуждения в профессиональном сообществе, в том числе в рамках деятельности библиотечных ассоциаций. Так, Ассоциация медицинских библиотек (Medical Library Association, MLA) предложила компетенции, которым необходимо непрерывно обучать медицинских библиотекарей (Bass et al, 2020;MLA…, 2017); Ассоциация университетских и исследовательских библиотек (Association of College & Research Libraries, ACRL) определила профессиональные навыки, характерные для библиотек этого вида (ACRL…, 2017); Ассоциация библиотечного обслуживания молодых людей (Young Adult Library Services Association, YALSA) выделила основные компетенции, которые Актуальность В условиях интенсивно меняющейся внешней среды библиотечные специалисты все чаще анализируют требования к личностным и профессиональным качествам сотрудников. Специалисты ищут и совместно проектируют новые смыслы, которые позволят библиотекарям успешно интегрироваться в цифровую среду, обеспечивая ориентиры для развития библиотек как важной социальной инфраструктуры, их устойчивое развитие в интересах будущего, а также профиль библиотекаря будущего (Библиоте-карь…, 2021; Компетенции…, 2021).…”

“…Способности библиотекарей решать определенный класс профессиональных задач -предмет обсуждения в профессиональном сообществе, в том числе в рамках деятельности библиотечных ассоциаций. Так, Ассоциация медицинских библиотек (Medical Library Association, MLA) предложила компетенции, которым необходимо непрерывно обучать медицинских библиотекарей (Bass et al, 2020;MLA…, 2017); Ассоциация университетских и исследовательских библиотек (Association of College & Research Libraries, ACRL) определила профессиональные навыки, характерные для библиотек этого вида (ACRL…, 2017); Ассоциация библиотечного обслуживания молодых людей (Young Adult Library Services Association, YALSA) выделила основные компетенции, которые помогают в разработке соответствующих программ и услуг и способствуют развитию отношений с подростками (Campos, 2020;Teen…, 2017); Ассоциация библиотечных коллекций и технических служб (Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, ALCTS) установила основные профессиональные компетенции библиотекарей, занимающихся каталогизацией и метаданными (Core…, 2017) и др.…”

Assessing return on investment in health libraries requires lateral thinking

“…While the respondents of Kemp et al’s () study felt competent in their skills base from past training, Bass, Allen, Vanderpool, & Capdarest‐Arest () examine how issues of extending competencies based on an analysis of library school curricula and data from an informal poll. Taking collection organisation as its focus, Bass et al () explore opportunities for education including library school courses and informal learning such as peer support networks, and on‐the‐job learning. They conclude by urging professional associations to facilitate continuing educational opportunities to enable skills development as defined in their competency frameworks.…”