Rethinking Your Involvement: A Survey on Hospital Library Committee Participation

New and Emerging Roles for Medical Librarians

“…A recent article analyzed the wide range of committees in which librarians participate-many of which, such as Human Resources or Facilities, are well outside traditional library roles-and concluded that participation in committees frequently led to increased visibility for the library and increased opportunities for collaboration (14). CONCUSION Every day, librarians do committee work, talk with patrons, invite new partners into library space, and step outside the library into classrooms, patient floors, health fairs, and even cafeteria space, and in doing so they lay claim to new and exciting roles for librarians and the library.…”

Hospital Librarians: From Consumer Health to Patient Education and Beyond

“…A repeat survey several years later showed changes in committee participation and discussed benefits to librarians, stating that committee participation continues to affect the visibility of both the library and the librarian in a positive manner. The survey results also indicate that librarians are serving in nontraditional roles, such as on human resources and facilities committees (14).…”

“…An article written about committee involvement details the benefits for librarians (14). The authors go in-depth looking at the number of committees and types of committees in which hospital librarians participate.…”

Proving Your Worth / Adding to Your Value

“…In their article in this journal's ReachOut Through Outreach column, Rethinking Your Involvement: A Survey on Hospital Library Committee Participation, Kathy Zeblisky and colleagues conclude that "committee participation continues to affect the visibility of both the library and the librarian in a positive manner" (9).…”