Search

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, Katie Nicholas presents the findings of a very topical piece of research into the use of eBooks in health libraries, which she completed for a Masters dissertation. Katie graduated with an MA in Library and Information Management (Distinction) from Manchester Metropolitan University in July 2017. She would like to acknowledge the support of her supervisor, Rachel Delbridge, in helping her to gain a Distinction in her dissertation. In the article, she points out that the use of eBooks in the NHS is low compared to other sectors and she presents the findings from her research, which help to explain this. She outlines the development of an electronic tool to help library and information staff make sense of the complexity around eBooks and makes further very practical recommendations for practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the third in a series in this regular feature. The intention of the series is to look at important global developments in health science libraries. These articles will serve as a road map, describing the key changes in the field and exploring factors driving these changes. The present article by the current president of the Medical Library Association outlines two important developments in the United States. The topics chosen for consideration are national initiatives in the United States impacting health sciences libraries and librarians and enhanced roles for U.S. health sciences librarians in providing support for research. J.M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine what value health sciences students place on leisure reading, whether they prefer to read online or in print, what the principal barriers are to their reading and whether they wish to have a leisure reading collection at their health sciences library. Methods In October 2010, a link to a survey was sent to all 1800 students in health sciences professional programmes at the author's institution. Results Two hundred and thirteen students (11.8%) responded. Most felt that leisure reading had helped in their development as health professionals and increased their empathy. They listed many benefits of reading, such as improved understanding of minority groups, reduced stress, and improved thinking and communication skills. The majority preferred to read books and magazines in print, while the largest number preferred reading newspapers in print as well. Lack of time, fatigue and the expense of purchasing reading materials were the greatest barriers to reading. A majority of students were in favour of having a leisure reading collection set up at their library. Conclusions Leisure reading was valued by the respondents, who felt it provided personal and professional benefits. However, many indicated that circumstances made it difficult to participate in leisure reading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the 15th in a series of articles exploring international trends in health science librarianship in the 21st century. It is the third of four articles pertaining to different regions in the African continent. The present issue focuses on countries in West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal). The next feature column will investigate trends in North Africa. JM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big data, like MOOCs, altmetrics and open access, is a term that has been commonplace in the library community for some time yet, despite its prevalence, many in the library and information sector remain unsure of the relationship between big data and their roles. This editorial explores what big data could mean for the day-to-day practice of health library and information workers, presenting examples of big data in action, considering the ethics of accessing big data sets and the potential for new roles for library and information workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To visit leisure reading collections in academic science and health sciences libraries to determine how they function and what role they play in their libraries. Methods The author visited seven libraries with leisure reading collections and carried out a semistructured interview with those responsible either for selection of materials or for the establishment of the collection. Results These collections contained a variety of materials, with some libraries focusing on health-science-related materials and others on providing recreational reading. The size of the collections also varied, from 186 to 9700 books, with corresponding differences in budget size. All collections were housed apart, with the same loan period as the regular collection. No collections contained electronic materials. Although there was little comparable statistical data on usage, at the six libraries at which active selection was occurring, librarians and library staff felt that the collection was well used and felt that it provided library users with benefits such as stress relief and relaxation and exposure to other perspectives. Conclusion Librarians and library staff at the libraries that undertook active selection felt that their leisure reading collection was worthwhile. It would be interesting for future work to focus on the user experience of such collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on problems with medical libraries, plagiarism, and access to foreign medical literature in Russia. It states that acquisition of foreign literature by Russian medical libraries has declined since the 1980s. It talks about the Central Scientific Medical Library in Moscow and the Russian State Library and on inadequate funding, poor conditions in the buildings, and the inability of readers to access foreign journals held at the libraries. It comments on the rise of plagiarism in Russian medical journals due to limited foreign journal access and on outdated medical practices that result from insufficient knowledge of foreign literature. It mentions the limited availability of online medical journals and how plagiarism is an obstacle to free access to online material.

The article examines the health care and the access to health information in the kingdom of Bhutan. The article describes the health care infrastructure, which includes the national Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, and discusses the role of traditional medicine. According to the article, in Bhutan access to medical and health information is restricted since Internet access is expensive and there are no paid journal subscriptions at the country's health libraries, which are all located in the capital city of Thimphu.

The article focuses on the role of "Review of New Foreign Titles on Medical Science" (RNFTMS) in the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences library in Beijing, China. The Chinese libraries has been publishing the RNFTMS since 1994 in a quarterly basis with the participation of the Springer, German publishing company, and have received more than 1000 new biological and medical books free. On the other hand, tables are provided which shows RNFTMS number of books reviewed and purchased, however, readers can learn more about books on Online Public Access Catalogue which link to the book reviews.

The article provides information on the changes made to a distance learning course at the Open University in England. The course consists of specific learning outcomes related to information literacy. Under the course, students are required to demonstrate their use of the process of information retrieval and complete an information literacy diagnostic test online at the start of the knowledge management unit. Moreover, the students are given study weeks to practice information literacy skills. The majority of teaching the course is done through a printed learning guide.

The objectives of this paper are: (i) to illustrate the use of e-books by health studies students at a college of higher education; (ii) to provide a demonstration of how e-books may be facilitated by library and information services staff working across the health and academic sectors; (iii) to comment upon the experiences of health studies students, in using e-books. A focus group of 10 student midwives was used to gain insight into how e-books may be used in an academic context for health professionals. The findings of the student midwives’ focus group are reported and discussed. In this instance, the student midwives were encouraged to use e-books as part of a structured information skills programme. The paper concentrates on how the e-books were used within this context and addresses the potential benefits and disadvantages from a student perspective. The results provide evidence of a largely positive experience of using e-books as an electronic information resource. The focus group reveals many benefits and advantages in the facilitation and use of e-books, as well as addressing areas for development. It is concluded that e-books have a place in health library and information resources, but further development of e-books and e-book collections is required and subsequent investigation into their most effective use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on library services for people with special needs in Northern Ireland. In 1979, the library committee of the Southeastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) commissioned a review of library services to people with varying degrees of disability. Major recommendations were, namely, materials and services must be as relevant to the needs of disabled people as materials and services provided for those without disability in so far as possible; the needs of disabled people for library and information services must be established by direct contact with the people themselves or their representatives; new technology must be applied where it can bring improvement etc. The SEELB service by its very nature has always been client-orientated and client-led, with a continuous programme of visits to residential homes and centers, to ensure good communication with activity nurses, therapists and residents. The SEELB library service has a long-standing policy commitment to lifelong learning and education. Such services provide typical benefits to elderly people like keeping them active both mentally and physically for longer, developing new practical skills and the confidence to use them, being more actively involved in the local community, being more creative etc.

Reports the launching of survey course on the social history of European medicine by the Open University in Milton Keynes, England. Delivery of instruction through CD-ROM; Use of images as resources for studying medicine history; Features of the CD-ROM.