Hospital Administrator Perceptions of the Library

This presentation summarizes results of a qualitative study of perceptions of hospital libraries by New England hospital administrators conducted in fall 2008. The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to investigate the views of hospital administrators about librarians and library services in their institutions and how they make decisions around what services are provided and funded in their hospital; and 2) to explore the views of health sciences librarians, informed by interviews with hospital administrators on the value of the hospital library. Presented at the Massachusetts Health Sciences Library Network (MAHSLIN) Annual Meeting, Waltham, MA, April 24, 2009

One Model for Creating a Career Ladder for Library Support Staff

This article describes a unique career ladder model for library support staff. Major components include a promotion in place opportunity based on specified achievement levels, competencies, cross training, and measurable evaluation. The authors discuss the background, development, and program description of the career ladder model

Value of Hospital Libraries Study

Research Questions: What are the predominant views of hospital administrators concerning library services that are provided in their institutions? How do they view the role of the librarian? How do they make decisions about what services to provide and how to fund them? What are the predominant views of health sciences librarians concerning the value that is placed on their libraries? Methods: In 2008, a study was conducted to determine the value of hospital libraries in the New England region. Solicitations for regional participants occurred during May. Twenty-one participants volunteered, constituting equal distribution, both in location (per state) and size (licensed beds). Participants were mailed packets containing a list of scripted questions to pose to hospital administrators, along with interview tips. From June through August, participants conducted interviews with key hospital administrators from their institutions. In October, participants were invited to one of two focus groups to discuss their interview experience with other librarians who participated in the study. Qualitative analysis of compiled data from the focus groups yielded a list of common themes. Results were shared in a report, and a presentation was delivered at the annual meeting of one of the region’s state health sciences library organizations, in April, 2009. Results: Both groups of librarians participating in the focus groups saw value participating in the study, although the tone of the two groups was somewhat different. The first focus group could be characterized: positive, upbeat, quick paced, and most of the librarians knew their interviewees. This may also have inserted some bias into the mix. On the other hand, the second focus group could be characterized: disappointed, not very positive, and most of the librarians did not know their interviewees. Conclusions: Six common themes were identified from the focus groups: (1) what people say about the library does influence the administrators responsible for the funding; (2) administrators saw there was a value in librarians serving on committees; (3) the library has value in terms of education, but not in administrator decision making; (4) administrators have difficulty measuring the value of the library beyond numbers; and (5) statistics do matter. Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, May 23, 2010

e-Mental Health: Providing Quality Mental Health Information to Practitioners and the Public

With the Internet a prominent place for many Americans to turn when seeking health information, the importance of providing authoritative, reliable, quality-filtered resources is a tasl well-suited for professional medical librarians. This article outlines three steps librarians can take to locate, organize, develop and deliver quality e-mental health resources effectively for mental health professionals and their patients, including establishing partnerships, developing and delivering resources, and providing training and outreach

Parents Learn to Find Quality Health Information: Point-of-Care Reference Services in a Pediatric Clinic

Purpose:To continue the Pediatric Family Resource Library project started in January 2002 with the goal of providing health information to families at the point of care. The current project, funded through a National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region subcontract, will provide formal and informal classes to teach parents to find and use quality health information on the Internet. Setting:Parents and families who use the Children\u27s Medical Center will have the opportunity to attend a basic Internet class and then a class to locate quality health information. The classes will be held over a one-year period in the library\u27s new computer instruction facilities. Methodology:Two classes per quarter will be scheduled--one on Internet Basics and one on finding and evaluating health information on the Internet. Child care and free parking will be provided. The project will also provide customized classes for parent groups and community agencies that serve children. Multiple classes are scheduled for the pediatric clinic staff to find quality health information. Description:A multiple-pronged approach will be used to publicize the classes and services provided by the Pediatric Library. Classes will be didactic and hands on--taught by experienced librarians. Results:The addition of classes will increase awareness and use of the Children\u27s Medical Center Pediatric Library and offer support and networking opportunities for the parents. This project started on October 1, 2002, and results from the classes are anticipated for MLA \u2703. Discussion:Parents are making health care decisions about their children every day and need to be empowered and confident with their skills to find quality health information. Many of the children who are cared for at the Children\u27s Medical Center have lifelong and complicated health problems. Many of these parents have become knowledgeable about how to access the Internet but may lack the critical skills necessary to evaluate the quality of the health information they find. This project will attempt to meet this need. Evaluation: At the end of each class session, the parents will complete an evaluation form

But we made the easy cuts last year

Objective: After dealing with three major budget cuts in FY03, The Lamar Soutter Library faced additional reductions for FY04. After brainstorming, the management team realized that drastic journal and staffing cuts were on the horizon. Concerns for the collection and for continued customer service called for creative solutions. The poster will examine the measures taken to preserve a quality journals collection. Methods: After compiling and sorting print and online usage statistics gathered over an eighteen-month period, low-use titles were identified for possible cancellation in order to meet the revised budget guidelines. A spreadsheet was prepared including information concerning annual subscription/ licensing costs, publisher, publication frequency, appearance on core titles lists, availability via databases, inclusion in aggregation packages, subscription requirements for electronic packages, availability in nearby affiliate institutions, and usage and cost-per-use statistics. The list was refined over several months, and distributed to the faculty for input. The director of library services attended various committee meetings to answer questions and gather feedback. A final list of titles, with total projected cost savings, was compiled. There were elements of both art and science in this process. Results: The results of this process were unexpected. The faculty had been involved in the process, and understood the ramifications of massive journal cuts. As a group, the faculty Council protested to the School Administration about the planned cuts--and the administration gave the needed funds to the library to pay for the journals slated to be cut. Conclusions: Although a happy ending is not always possible, a carefully planned review process, utilizing as much hard data as possible, and keeping the users informed at each stage, can benefit the library as it seeks to provide quality resources in support of the school\u27s mission

e-Mental Health in Central Massachusetts

e-Mental Health in Central Massachusetts (EMH) is a web-based resource designed to improve access to evidence-based mental health information and local resources for mental health professionals and consumers. The Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), in collaboration with the UMMS Department of Psychiatry and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, developed EMH to meet the needs of practitioners, patients and caregivers. The project provides an integrative web-based information resource that includes searchable databases of (1) local mental health care services and (2) quality-filtered information about mental health conditions and diseases. Centralized access to professional resources, information literacy training, professional reference services and document delivery to a traditionally underserved population are also provided. After training, participants in the program use the resource regularly and demonstrate heightened awareness of reliable mental health information available to them. The collaborative spirit also continues and will surely benefit future endeavors

Improving Access to Public Health Information: A Study of Information Needs in a State Health Department

Background: Public health challenges can be better addressed if credible information about health risks and effective public health practices is readily available. The need for improved access to evidence-based public health information has been recognized by public health practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and librarians. Objective: To understand the information needs of the public health workforce and to improve access to credible and relevant information for public health practice. Methods: A qualitative study identified how public health professionals currently access information, what barriers they face, and what improvements they need. Nineteen individual interviews were conducted in two state health bureaus – communicable disease control and community health promotion. Follow-on focus groups were conducted to gather additional data on preferences for accessing information. Results: Public health professionals interviewed have a wide variety of needs and use different information sources depending on the areas of public health they work in and the diverse nature of their work. The types of information they use can be arranged in an information needs continuum ranging from early reports of disease outbreaks needed by those dealing with emerging diseases, to published reports, journal articles, systematic reviews, and evidence-based guidelines needed by those working on the prevention and control of well-known diseases and health threats. Information sources used by the participants include news resources, listservs, alert services, journal articles, conference proceedings, and email. The study revealed that public health practitioners face several barriers and limitations to accessing quality information for public health practice. These include lack to time and knowledge to find quality information; feeling bombarded with unfiltered and often duplicative information from listservs; and limited access to grey literature, systematic reviews, and full-text journal articles. Conclusion: Both groups expressed the need for access to information targeted towards their specific public health areas of interest and desired a way to filter information for more efficient access to relevant information. The research team developed a hypothetical model for the delivery and organization of credible and relevant public health information. Some of the participants were not aware of evidence-based public health resources currently available. An outcome of the project that is particularly beneficial to the public health workforce and information professionals is the project’s website, http://library.umassmed.edu/ebpph, which provides free online access to public health journals, databases, and evidence-based public health resources identified by the research team. Presentation at the 2006 Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

Identifying evidence-based best practices in Maternal and Child Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Information Center has funded a medical library project to develop an electronic resource of current, evidence-based public health best practices identified in the journal literature. This resource will assist university faculty and federal, state and local public health department personnel in identifying evidence-based best practices in maternal and child health. The results to date include a project website; lists of public health journals and bibliographic databases; a chart of public health sources, knowledge domains, and sub-domains; current evidence-based best practices identified in maternal and child health; and a table of public health journals matched with each knowledge domain and sub-domain. This methodology for developing resources related to a specific knowledge domain such as maternal and child health can also be used in other areas of public health. The description of the criteria presently used for defining evidence-based best practices can be used in reviews of the public health literature. Presented at the 131st Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association