Implementing and Assessing Library Reference Training Programs

Comprehensive assessments have shown that academic library users prefer a welcoming environment that provides the opportunity for self-sufficiency. Libraries need to meet these expectations and improve the quality of library reference by creating a comprehensive training program for librarians, staff, and students. This article will review standards for reference training in academic libraries with a focus on one-desk service points and consider best practices for planning, implementing, and assessing training programs for staff, students, and librarians.     

Work/training programs for international health science librarians in American medical school libraries

World understanding is more than a desirable goal today: it may be crucial to our survival. Many universities realize this and have in the past decade spent a great deal of time and money to ensure a steady flow of faculty and students between the U.S. and other countries. Librarians with faculty or academic status may benefit from promoting such relationships themselves. Job exchanges and training programs offer librarians in the United States the opportunity to become acquainted with their counterparts in other countries. Such programs enable librarians of various countries to become aware of one another's special needs and common problems, and allow them to share ideas and expertise. This paper presents an overview of international training programs for foreign librarians in the United States, focusing on programs for health sciences librarians in United States medical school libraries. Information is given on the availability and types of institutionally sponsored programs, as well as on MLA's Cunningham Fellowship Program. Some of the difficulties and the benefits of such programs are discussed.     

Librarian participation in expanding the pool of potential medical students

This article reports on the results of an exploratory survey to determine if librarians actively participate in medical school student recruiting programs. It looks specifically at what librarians are doing to assist with recruitment and what biomedical career resources their libraries offer. The survey link was e-mailed to all U.S. medical school library directors, who were asked to forward it to the appropriate librarian. Out of 113 medical schools, 68 (60%) responded to most questions. Forty-three (86%) of 50 item respondents do participate in such activities, and 29 (67%) of 43 item respondents have been doing so for more than five years. Thirty-two (64%) of 50 item respondents provide resources on biomedical careers in the libraries.     

试论高校图书馆如何对大学生馆员进行职业化管理

介绍什么是职业化,用冰山理论解释职业化和专业化的不同,分析职业化与大学生的关系;提出高校图书馆应该对大学生馆员进行职业化管理的方案,把对大学生馆员的管理上升到人才培养及技术训练的高度;并从平等与参与、责任、培训、赏识激励和评价四个方面深入探讨高校图书馆如何对大学生馆员进行职业化管理。参考文献8。     

Librarian Participation in Expanding the Pool of Potential Medical Students

This article reports on the results of an exploratory survey to determine if librarians actively participate in medical school student recruiting programs. It looks specifically at what librarians are doing to assist with recruitment and what biomedical career resources their libraries offer. The survey link was e-mailed to all U.S. medical school library directors, who were asked to forward it to the appropriate librarian. Out of 113 medical schools, 68 (60%) responded to most questions. Forty-three (86%) of 50 item respondents do participate in such activities, and 29 (67%) of 43 item respondents have been doing so for more than five years. Thirty-two (64%) of 50 item respondents provide resources on biomedical careers in the libraries.     

图书馆员的职业规划

本文从图书馆职业发展模式,图书馆员的职业精神,图书馆员人文素质的培养,图书馆员职业发展中存在的问题,自我的心理调适培训,图书馆员的职业培训,图书馆员职业设计等几个方面来阐述图书馆员如何进行职业规划。     

Providing Reference Services for Young Adults

Summary

With more resource-based learning, libraries have become central in adolescent academic lives. School and public librarians play unique and overlapping roles in providing students with informational needs. School librarians, as educators, work with classroom teachers to design meaningful lessons that draw upon available resources. However, school librarians cannot work independently of public librarians, especially reference specialists. While school libraries focus on tools that support the curriculum, public libraries offer references for broad public use. Ideally, public and school libraries coalesce for collection development and service coordination. This article discusses issues and opportunities for school-public library partnerships and coalitions to benefit teens.     

Information Technology and the Teaching Role of the College Librarian

Reference librarians have a unique opportunity to encourage the development of lifelong self-directed information-seeking skills by introducing college students to information technology and its effective use. Educators now emphasize the need for students to be capable of lifelong learning outside-the formal classroom setting. At the same time, information technology is playing an increasingly larger role in students' personal and professional lives. This article reviews the ways in which new information technologies have already placed increasing demands for instruction on reference staff. It describes how college librarians are attempting to meet the demand through different approaches to end-user training, both formal and informal. It then evaluates which methods seem to be the most likely to foster self-directed learning behavior in the use of information technologies.     

The education and training needs of health librarians - the generalist versus specialist dilemma

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to examine whether and how librarians with a generalist background can transfer to roles demanding more expert knowledge in the health sector. The objectives were (i) to compare the education and training needs of health librarians with science degrees with the education and training needs of health librarians with arts and humanities degrees; (ii) to compare the education and training needs of librarians working in the National Health Service (NHS) sector with the education and training needs of librarians working for the health sector but within higher education. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews with 16 librarians, a convenience sample of librarians working in the Thames Valley NHS region. RESULTS: The main findings confirmed that structured continuing professional development (CPD) is required to meet the rapidly changing needs in the health sector. The emphasis ought to be on teaching skills, outreach work, marketing and promotion, research skills and methods, subject knowledge and terminology, and management skills. Library school curricula do not appear to meet the demands of medical library posts. A first degree in scientific subjects is advantageous in the early stages of a career but diminishes with continuing training and experience. There is no evidence of a significant difference in training needs and provision between the librarians in NHS posts as opposed to those in higher education (HE) posts. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusions suggest that library schools need to update their programmes to include teaching skills, advanced search skills, project management skills, research methods, with more practical exercises. Particular attention should be given to librarians with a first degree in non-scientific subjects in terms of time allocated for CPD, quality of training and access to reliable mentorship.     

What We Learned along the Way: Librarian Experiences from K–12 and How They Aid in University Library Instruction

This article shares the perspectives of two former high school and middle school librarians who moved into academic libraries. The move from the K–12 sector to higher education offered them unique insights into working with first-year students as they started their college careers. Existing literature discusses the importance of collaboration between high school and academic librarians. The authors of this article have firsthand experience of how students work in the middle and high school realm, and they demonstrate how to apply that knowledge and experience with college students.     

当今图书馆员消极心理体验的实证研究

在以往研究中,我们发现图书馆行业存在着一部分程度不等的消极心理体验的群体,主要包括：男性、30岁以下者、普通员工、月收入低于1000元者、大专及以下学历者和高校图书馆员等。于是,我们针对相关数据,采用T检验和方差分析,重点探讨了他们消极心理体验产生的原因及应对措施。     

The health sciences librarian in medical education: a vital pathways project task force

Objectives:

The Medical Education Task Force of the Task Force on Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians reviewed current and future roles of health sciences librarians in medical education at the graduate and undergraduate levels and worked with national organizations to integrate library services, education, and staff into the requirements for training medical students and residents.

Methods:

Standards for medical education accreditation programs were studied, and a literature search was conducted on the topic of the role of the health sciences librarian in medical education.

Results:

Expectations for library and information services in current standards were documented, and a draft standard prepared. A comprehensive bibliography on the role of the health sciences librarian in medical education was completed, and an analysis of the services provided by health sciences librarians was created.

Conclusion:

An essential role and responsibility of the health sciences librarian will be to provide the health care professional with the skills needed to access, manage, and use library and information resources effectively. Validation and recognition of the health sciences librarian''s contributions to medical education by accrediting agencies will be critical. The opportunity lies in health sciences librarians embracing the diverse roles that can be served in this vital activity, regardless of accrediting agency mandates.In response to reported closings of and staff reductions at hospital libraries, the Medical Library Association (MLA) and the Hospital Libraries Section of MLA agreed to study the state of hospital libraries and librarians under the auspices of the Task Force on Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians. The task force''s Health Sciences Librarian in Medical Education Task Force (METF)^* was charged with reviewing the accreditation standards regarding libraries for residency programs and with working with national organizations to integrate library services, education, and staff into the requirements for training medical students and residents.     

Recruitment and diversity: A research study of bilingualism and library services

Recruitment theory considers the relative importance of a range of factors (i.e., individuals, experiences, and other factors) in the decisions of those who select a profession, a professional specialty, and a specific employer. This study of the recruitment of bilingual librarians is based on a survey of the membership of REFORMA (The National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking). The data reflect the factors that influenced the career decision making of current library and information professionals who are, in the main, bilingual and Hispanic, as well as the factors influencing potential retention decisions. The research results indicate the importance of factors, such as entering a service profession and the desire to serve the Spanish-speaking community, in particular. As is the case with the prior (and limited) recruitment research in the profession, this article provides insights in terms of recruitment strategies for bilingual librarians who serve this segment of the population. While the research relates to a growing segment of the U.S. population, with its demographic complexity and range of information needs, implications, which are applicable to other language groups, bilingual circumstances, and other countries, are considered, as well.     

Neither Fish nor Fowl: A Role Theory Approach to Librarians Teaching

The teaching of IL primarily to undergraduate students in course-integrated, credit-bearing, or other hybrid settings has afforded academic librarians the opportunity to redefine their role within higher education, moving from a jurisdiction of access to one of expertise. While some academic librarians have viewed these shifting roles as a further strain upon an already heterogeneous profession, others have viewed teaching as an opportunity for academic librarians to be more engaged in teaching and learning, and more closely aligned with their classroom faculty counterparts. This article seeks to utilize Role Theory as a means to examine the dynamics of librarians as instructors, and information literacy as an academic discipline.     

Metropolis redux: the unique importance of library skills in informatics.

OBJECTIVES: The objective is to highlight the important role that librarians have in teaching within a successful medical informatics program. Librarians regularly utilize skills that, although not technology dependent, are essential to conducting computer-based research. The Metropolis analogy is used to introduce the part librarians play as informatics partners. Science fiction is a modern mythology that, beyond a technical exterior, has lasting value in its ability to reflect the human condition. The teaching of medical informatics, an intersection of technology and knowledge, is also most relevant when it transcends the operation of databases and systems. Librarians can teach students to understand, research, and utilize information beyond specific technologies. METHODS: A survey of twenty-six informatics programs was conducted during 2002, with specific emphasis on the role of the library service. RESULTS: The survey demonstrated that librarians currently do have a central role in informatics instruction, and that library-focused skills form a significant part of the curriculum in many of those programs. In addition, librarians have creative opportunities to enhance their involvement in informatics training. As a sample program in the study, the development of the informatics course at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is included. CONCLUSIONS: Medical informatics training is a wonderful opportunity for librarians to collaborate with professionals from the sciences and other information disciplines. Librarians' unique combination of human research and technology skills provides a valuable contribution to any program.     

How Medical Students Discover and Use Medical Information Tools

Abstract

Many studies have examined how medical faculty and fourth-year medical students use information tools. Few studies have investigated how first, second, and third-year medical students discover and use information tools. In fall 2018, first, second, and third-year medical students received emails describing a study, which included a three-question survey and four interview questions. Of the 525 students, 122 completed the survey and 18 completed interviews. Results showed that clinical students most frequently use UpToDate, but preclinical students use multiple information tools. This report shows librarians can positively influence how preclinical students use information tools during medical school.     

Virtual Reference

Abstract

Explores virtual reference as a new career opportunity for librarians. Asks if this is a good, long career path, or if it will careen virtual reference librarians off into the slough of despond. The skills needed for the traditional reference librarian are compared to those needed by the virtual reference librarian; the challenges and advantages of working virtual versus traditional reference are identified; the types of questions and resources used in providing virtual reference service are discussed; and the types of interaction with the patrons are explored. The skills needed to manage and evaluate virtual reference services are also articulated.     

关于中小学生信息意识培育问题的思考

本文分析了目前中小学信息素养教育侧重普及计算机技术与技能教学,轻视信息的获取和有效利用教育,无视信息意识培养等现象,提出从创新教育观念、重视协作教育、倡导共同关注和借助自主学习几个方面,进行目积月累和潜移默化培育学生信息意识的观点,从而达到全民信息素质水平提高的最终目的。     

Health sciences librarians of African heritage: an earnest entreaty for research

In view of recent discussions of diversity in library work, it would seem prudent to have a good understanding of basic facts and considered opinions of health sciences librarians of African heritage concerning their career experiences, opportunities for advancement, perceptions of negative behavior in the library, experiences of bias and discrimination in the library, existence of special information needs of patrons of African heritage, and interactions with non-African-heritage medical librarians and staff. Since there is a dearth of literature and research on these topics, this commentary will attempt to stimulate and encourage such work by providing a brief summary of currently available literature and research and providing some ideas for future academic endeavors.     

Informationist Education

ABSTRACT

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds biomedical research and conducts its own research. One way the NIH Library supports this work is by providing librarians with biomedical training and encouraging them to become embedded with researchers and administrators. Some of these “informationists” have degrees in scientific or health fields, and all engage in ongoing training, mostly through coursework at local institutions and at NIH itself. This article elaborates on the training of NIH informationists. Past research has indicated that patrons welcome librarians with biomedical training, which may in turn lead to greater communication between librarians and researchers.