The status of health librarianship and libraries in the Republic of Ireland (SHELLI): a mixed methods review to inform future strategy and sustainability

Background

This paper summarises the main points of a review of the Status of Health Librarianship & Libraries in Ireland (SHELLI). The review was commissioned to gain a broad understanding of what was happening in practice in Ireland; acquire knowledge about international best practice, and to inform strategic plans to develop and sustain health libraries and librarianship in Ireland.

Methods

A Mixed Methods approach was used: a literature review; an online survey distributed to health librarians; Semi structured interviews with key stakeholders; a focus group drawing participants from the survey. All evidence was triangulated.

Results

New roles for health librarians needed development and the changing educational needs of health librarians warranted attention. Increased collaboration across institutional boundaries needed more consideration, especially in relation to access to e‐resources. Marketing of library services was crucial. Irish health library standards, needed to be updated and enforced and a proper evidence base established. The literature provided a number of examples of potentially useful initiatives.

Conclusions

A strategic plan of action was drawn up in three areas: (i) to identify champions and promote visibility of health service libraries, (ii) to establish a body of evidence and (iii) to support service development and staff mentoring.     

Museum professionals and the relevance of LIS expertise

This article presents results from a survey designed to assess the relevance of library and information science (LIS) expertise—here defined as those topics typically, but not exclusively, taught in LIS programs—for museum professionals. The topics covered in this article are information representation, information organization and access, information management, computer technologies, digitization technologies, interactive technologies, information policy, evaluation methods, and collaboration initiatives. An online survey assessed the degree to which museum professionals possess skills in these topics, perform work in these topics, and consider these topics important for future study. The article examines the relative value of each topic for museum professionals and discusses the importance of strengthening relationships between LIS and museum studies by better understanding the relevance of LIS expertise in museums.     

实证研究——现实的科学化映射

本文主要介绍了实证研究方法的起源、概念与特点,并总结了国外实证研究方法在图书情报领域的应用,对比分析了国内实证研究的现状,最后结合实例详细阐述实证研究的实施步骤。     

International Trends in Health Science Librarianship Part 14: East Africa (Kenya,Uganda, Rwanda)

This is the 14th in a series of articles exploring international trends in health science librarianship in the 21st century. This is the second of four articles pertaining to different regions in the African continent. The present issue focuses on countries in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda). The next feature column will investigate trends in West Africa. JM     

International trends in health science libraria‐ nship: Part 7 Taking stock

This article reviews the six papers published so far in this series on global trends in health science librarianship. Starting with a retrospective review of trends in the twentieth‐century, the series has covered 6 different regions, with contributions from 21 countries. As this is the half‐way point in the survey, it seems a useful point at which to reflect on what has emerged so far. The method of content analysis is used to identify key trends. The top five trends are explored. JM     

The Covid‐19 ‘infodemic’: a new front for information professionals

The virus, commonly known as COVID‐19 which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has spread in 213 countries, areas or territories around the globe, with nearly 144 683 deaths worldwide on 18 April 2020. In the wake of this pandemic, we have witnessed a massive infodemic with the public being bombarded with vast quantities of information, much of which is not scientifically correct. Fighting fake news is now the new front in the COVID‐19 battle. This regular feature comments on the role of health sciences librarians and information professionals in combating the COVID‐19 infodemic. To support their work, it draws attention to the myth busters, fact‐checkers and credible sources relating to COVID‐19. It also documents the guides that libraries have put together to help the general public, students and faculty recognise fake news.     

图书馆信息学的逻辑架构及历史轨迹:基于推理 与史实的学科独特性思考

20世纪后半叶至21世纪初,人类知识在信息领域出现了比较集中的增长和分化,形成了明显的信息相关学科群。面对新兴信息学科的挑战,本世纪的世界图书馆信息学(LIS)界主要采取了淡化自身独特性、强调学科交叉融合的发展策略。本文在质疑这一策略的基础上,旨在围绕彰显学科独特性实现三个目的:①梳理图书馆学和LIS共享的基础概念体系;②从上述概念体系出发,推导出与之相适应的学科逻辑架构;③从上述逻辑架构出发反观从传统图书馆学到LIS的历史轨迹,反思这一发展过程的内在必然性和不彻底性。本研究的结论主要建立在推理和对史实的思考之上。梳理出了包括数据、意义、知识、信息、文献、社会交流系统、图书馆、信息用户在内的学科基础概念,推导出由信息有效查询和有效获取相关问题主导的三层次(哲学相关理论、科学理论和技术)学科架构。从LIS的逻辑架构反观从传统图书馆学向LIS的演化轨迹,可以得出若干重要启示,包括:融贯的LIS比传统图书馆学更接近于这一逻辑架构,因而更适合作为统一学科立足于信息学科群;淡化自身独特性的发展战略有可能导致LIS更加偏离自身的逻辑架构,甚至有可能导致其解体;而一旦LIS解体,传统图书馆学的独立存在价值也难免受到削弱。与淡化自身独特性的发展策略相反,本文认为,通过在新信息环境中凸显自身独特性、重新定义信息有效查询与有效获取的含义,LIS有可能在维护自身统一性的前提下,拓展发展空间,并奠定与其他学科交叉渗透的稳固基石。图5。表1。参考文献56。     

Global publication trends in the Health Information and Libraries Journal, 2014–2015

In an age when health science librarians are encouraged to engage in research, it is worth considering how international the published literature is. This article analyses the authorship of articles in Health Information & Libraries Journal over a 1‐year period, to determine the country of the authors who were published. JM     

美国高等院校图情学教育的危机与困惑

美国高等院校图情学教育的危机与困惑金旭东宁苹ＡＢＳＴＲＡＣＴＴｏｄｉｓｃｕｓｓｔｈｅｔｈｒｅａｔｓｔｏａｎｄｃｏｎｆｕｓｉｏｎｏｆｌｉｂｒａｒｙａｎｄｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎｓｃｉｅｎｃｅｅｄｕｃａｔｉｏｎｉｎｔｈｅＵｎｉｔｅｄＳｔａｔｅｓ,ｔｈｅａｕ...     

iSchools师资队伍建设的发展趋势及启示

iSchools教育与研究的跨学科特征,是通过师资队伍的多元化来实现的。文章通过对iSchools师资队伍的学科背景以及研究领域等相关信息的采集、整理及量化分析,总结了iSchools师资建设的发展趋势,并得出对我国图书情报教育师资队伍建设的几点启示。     

The role of the health information professional

This virtual issue has been published to mark the CILIP Health Libraries Group 2014 Conference, taking place in Oxford on 24th and 25th July 2014. The issue's theme is to highlight the key role of the health information professional and it shines a spotlight on professional expertise, demonstrating what we can share and learn from each other. It comprises a collection of articles published in the Health Information and Libraries Journal during the last 2 years but is very much about looking forward. The articles selected embrace three main themes: new ways of working; acquiring new skills and competencies; and fine‐tuning existing skills and practices. The virtual issue mirrors the format of the regular journal, namely a review article, six original articles and the three regular features, covering Dissertations into Practice, International Perspectives and Initiatives and Learning and Teaching in Action. All articles included in this virtual issue are available free online.     

网络化对图书情报学理论与方法的影响

现代高新信息技术的发展有力地促进与推动了人类的图书情报服务事业。２０世纪６０年代初,加拿大的未来学家ＭｃＬｕｈａｎ在预测电子媒介的远景时,提出了“地球村”的崭新概念,他还展望了电子媒介对全球有一种“重新部落化”的影响［１］。继之,交互式信息网络——因...     

The Map of Medicine: a review of evidence for its impact on healthcare

Objectives: Map of Medicine is an evidence‐based online clinical knowledge resource. Procured at significant cost by healthcare providers in the UK, Sweden and Denmark, it is important to establish the beneficial impact that investment has had on healthcare practise and, ultimately, on patient outcomes. The objective of this study is to review the evidence for the impact of the Map of Medicine on clinical practice. Methods: A systematic review of peer‐reviewed and grey literature was conducted. Nine healthcare databases, Google Scholar and Google were searched for articles containing the terms ‘map of medicine’. Results: The search identified 133 articles. Eleven of the articles identified met the inclusion criteria. The main finding of the study is the paucity of evidence available on the impact of the Map of Medicine and the variable quality of that which does exist. There are some encouraging early indications for the Map of Medicine as a tool within service redesign, leading to an increase in appropriate referrals to secondary care, decreased patient waiting times and considerable cost savings. Conclusion: Further research with study designs that can generate high quality evidence for the impact of Map of Medicine is essential in order to support policy decisions.     

So much to learn, so little time to learn it: North American archival education programs in the information age and the role for certificate programs

Archivists in North America have described, discussed, and debated the necessary and optimal content, configuration, and venue for archival education for close to a century but have given little consideration to integrating technology within archival curricula. Increasingly, archivists are faced with a high tech world in which they must understand issues including information systems, the nature of electronic records and databases, record migration, digitization, and web design and creation for provision of access. This paper explores the nature and extent of information technology and information science coursework and knowledge discussed in the Society of American Archivists’ Guidelines for a Graduate Program in Archival Studies and that students have available to them while in archival programs. It concludes with a proposal for Library and Information Science education programs that prepare archivists to explore developing Certificate of Advanced Studies programs in archival management on top of master’s degrees to allow for additional information science coursework.     

图书馆学情报学园地中的又一朵奇葩——写在《信息管理科学博士文库》诞生之时

我国的图书馆学情报学博士研究生教育有了很大发展 ,目前已培养博士近百名。北京图书馆出版社从这些博士的毕业论文中选取优秀者 ,编成《信息管理科学博士文库》。“文库”对于传播、交流专业前沿研究成果、检阅学术研究水平、促进博士生教育、提高博士培养质量、提供研究资料和活跃科学研究 ,都具有重要意义。     

促进数据、信息和知识融通——2020年JCDL年会论文综述

[目的/意义]通过对2020年国际数字图书馆联合会议(Joint Conference on Digital Libraries,JCDL)的录用论文进行整体回顾,梳理与分析当下数字图书馆的研究内容与研究发现,为我国相关领域学者把握学科前沿提供参考。[研究设计/方法]采用文献综述法,对本届年会论文所反映的研究热点与前沿进行归纳总结与提炼。[结论/发现]本届年会覆盖研究主题广泛,呈现出与数据科学协同合作的趋势,聚焦于用户信息活动的探索、未来图书馆的建设、细粒度化与精准化智慧服务的提供等方面,具有较明显的跨学科特性,且在新型冠状病毒肺炎的公共卫生危机下更加关注生物医学信息学的价值。[创新/价值]揭示了当前图书情报与信息科学的研究热点与趋势。     

International trends in health science librarianship Part 10: The Greater China area

This is the 10th in a series of articles exploring international trends in health science librarianship. This issue describes developments in health science librarianship in the first decade of the 21st century in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The next issue will report on Japan and South Korea. JM     

现代图书馆若干问题探讨

现代图书馆资源是多种资源且相关联的有机整体,包括信息、人力和设备资源。社会管理学和信息管理科学从不同学科层和理论层构成了现代图书馆学的科学基础和理论基础。图书馆学原理揭示图书馆领域所具有的特殊矛盾的规律性,而图书馆原理揭示的是图书馆具体工作中所要遵循的指导思想和发展规律。参考文献5。     

Trend spotting – whither health science librarianship?

This feature surveys 20th-century trends in health sciences librarianship. It sets the scene for a series of features looking at 21st-century trends in various countries and regions. Whilst the mission of the health science library remains constant, librarians must find ways of adjusting their role and the services they provide to take account of changes in the external environment.     

The impact of information skills training on independent literature searching activity and requests for mediated literature searches

Background: Most NHS library services routinely offer both mediated searches and information skills training sessions to their users. We analyse the impact of these two services on the amount of literature searching demonstrated by users of hospital‐ based library services in the north‐west of England. Methods: Data for (1) mediated literature searches, (2) number of library users attending information skills training sessions, (3) amount of library staff time devoted to information skills training, and (4) number of Athens‐authenticated log‐ins to databases were obtained from statistical returns for 2007, and analysed for significant correlations. Results: There was evidence of quite strong correlations between the two measures of training activity and the number of mediated literature searches performed by library staff. There was weaker evidence of correlation between training activity and total literature searching activity. Discussion: Attending training sessions may make some library users aware of the difficulty of complex literature searches and actually reduce their confidence to perform their own complex searches independently. The relationships between information skills training, mediated literature searches, and independent literature searching activity remain complex.