Designing a model of professional ethics excellence for clinical librarians

Objective: Developing and promoting professional ethics principles for clinical librarians can help the health care system balance the interests of all stakeholders, including clinical librarians, health care professionals, and patients. Therefore, the goal of this study was to design a model of professional ethics excellence for clinical librarians. Methods: The authors conducted a descriptive applied study using literature review and the delphi method. The delphi panel included eleven experts in medical librarianship, library and information sciences, or information sciences and knowledge studies. Results: After the delphi rounds, five concepts and forty-six components were identified and confirmed to provide a model of professional ethics excellence for clinical librarians. The highest-rated concept was excellence in communication. The highest-rated component was mastery in developing search strategies in information resources and databases. Conclusions: Identifying and applying principles of professional ethics among clinical librarians can enhance the professionalization of clinical librarians and result in better information services for physicians. Furthermore, incorporating these principles into the curriculum for health sciences library and information sciences students or into workshops for active clinical librarians can further formalize the profession and practice of evidence-based medicine. © 2020, Medical Library Association. All rights reserved

Digital technologies applications in the provision of library and information services in health crises

This study is an attempt to provide an overview of how librarians are working from home and the sort of services they are providing using cutting-edge technological tools such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Altmetrics, social media, video conferencing. In this descriptive study, the researchers discuss the COVID-19 phenomena in the context of digital technological support. Researchers share their viewpoints in the context of this global pandemic noting that libraries can apply the best digital technology tools to best meet the evidence-based information needs of their users. This study also discusses the problems and challenges and how librarians can meet these challenges in disaster situations. The authors believe that this is the first study relating to the use of digital technology during the COVID crisis in Pakistan