Using a Search Strategy Tool To Teach Search Strategy Development

Objective: To demonstrate how use of a search strategy form together with a health science librarian consult improved student understanding of search strategy. Methods: Two embedded librarians for pharmacy and public health had separately designed assignments to teach advanced search techniques for their respective students but felt the outcomes were unsatisfactory. To address this, the pharmacy librarian created an exercise for students that would facilitate understanding of the search development process. Students completed a form that walked through the steps of the development process prior to meeting with a research librarian. Students then integrated librarian feedback into the final search strategy to complete the assignment. The public health librarian adopted a modified version of the pharmacy form. These students participated in a librarian led hands-on searching exercise and were encouraged to meet individually with the librarian as they progressed with their own projects. Results: Both librarians noticed better developed and more robust search strategies and greater understanding of controlled vocabulary. Instead of vague searches, multiple poorly-developed searches, and haphazard article selection, students found additional on-target results more effectively. For the pharmacy cohort, the mandatory librarian session involved more of the students in the search while overall assignment grades improved. For the public health doctoral students, the step-by-step process resulted in an improved understanding of the search process and better designed search strategies. One limitation is that we did not obtain IRB approval in advance of collecting data so cannot report on specifics. Conclusions: Breaking down the search process into separate steps using the search form seems to have increased the students’ knowledge about using controlled vocabulary and designing robust search strategies. Students that worked with a librarian were more engaged and showed greater understanding. The search form along with hands-on time with a librarian is a winning combination

Accounting for Work from Home in the Time of COVID

Objective: As our university moved to a work from home model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our research unit needed to reconsider how we accounted for our daily work. Our objective was to consolidate and standardize our data collection to meet requirements for a variety of different time-, project-, or college/program-based reports. Methods: We started by reviewing all the data elements that we might be asked to provide for internal and external reporting. Using the categories in our university activity report as the foundation, we discussed the level of granularity required and assigned activities to each group. We established common reportable elements, with the ability to add individual- or project-specific elements. We tested the categories using our real activities, regrouped to discuss challenges, and made changes as needed. Results: With the start of the new fiscal year, we incorporated these categories into Timeneye and now use them to track our activities. We export these data on a regular basis as our timesheet for the university to meet its work from home requirements. So far, this system also has been effective for creating time-, project-, or college/program-based reports. Conclusions: This project streamlined the process of tracking our time and facilitated the creation of ad hoc reports. It has made it easier for us to track our time across the unit and it will also make it easier for new hires to account for their time in a logical manner

Using a Reflexive Process to Investigate Organizational Change: The Use of the Research Spider Matrix

The primary objective was to assess the research competencies (knowledge, experience, and skills) of librarians at an academic health sciences library using the Research Spider matrix (Smith et al., 2002). This was motivated by the shift from a traditional reference model to a research-centric paradigm

Building Responsive Research Capacity: A Survey of Academic Health Faculty

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of and satisfaction with the University of South Florida Health Libraries (USFHL) research support services (RSS). A secondary objective was to understand the research skills of academic health faculty. The data will help inform future service offerings. The mixed methods study is comprised of two phases: a survey followed by focus groups. The survey assessed 1) knowledge of and satisfaction with specific RSS, 2) faculty confidence in performing 10 specific research tasks, and 3) preference for potential class topics. Open-ended fields allowed for additional comments and suggestions. Respondents self-identified if they were willing to participate in subsequent focus groups. The survey was emailed to all Health faculty, with two reminders. Basic demographics broke out respondents by their college, department, or school; years of conducting and publishing research, and writing grants. Preliminary analyses of the 105 respondents indicated most were extremely/satisfied with USFHL RSS, which were defined as consultations with the librarians, library classes/workshops, LibGuides, and research databases. Less than half of faculty reported confidence in using qualitative research methods and applying for research funding. Potential class topics identified were the 1) scholarly publishing topics, 2) conduct of types of literature reviews, 3) research metrics, 4) research tool recommendations, and 5) effective search strategies. A third of participants volunteered to participate in future focus groups. The qualitative data centered around issues with access and tools; requests for additional trainings, and praise for librarians, resources, & services. Based on initial findings, we plan to add more grants workshops and develop a series on finding, critically reviewing, and writing qualitative studies

Merck Manuals

Non

Graphic Medicine in Academic Medical Library Collections

Collection analysis of graphic medical collections available in libraries affiliated with medical schools

Basic Resources for Pharmacy Education

Basic Resources for Pharmacy Education is a service project of the Drug Information and Library Sciences section (DILS) of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). The guide supports those tasked with developing or updating library collections for pharmacy colleges and schools. It offers a selection of recommended books and resources for inclusion in pharmacy libraries; however it is not mandatory to purchase every suggested title