Research/Reference Works

Margaret Labash Young, Harold Chester Young, and Anthony T. Truzas, et al. Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers (Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1977---published in two volumes with an updating service at prices noted below)

Anthony Kruzas and Linda Verekamp Sullivan, eds. Encyclopedia of Information Systems and Services (Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1978---$95.00)

Paul Wasserman, et al, eds. Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources (Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1976---$48.00)

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978---$39.50)Albert Walker's “Public Relations Bibliography: Sixth Edition, 1976-77,” Public Relations Review 4:4 (Winter 1978)

Ron Nordland, Names and Numbers: A Journalist's Guide to the Most Needed Information Sources and Contacts (640 pp.)

Jerry M. Rosenberg, Dictionary of Business and Management (564 pp.)

Scientific American Cumulative Index, May 1948 -June 1978 (Scientific American, P.O. Box 5947, New York, N.Y. 10017---$38.50 prepublication, and $45.00 afterwords)     

Emerging roles for biomedical librarians: a survey of current practice,challenges, and changes

Objective:

This study is intended to (1) identify emerging roles for biomedical librarians and determine how common these roles are in a variety of library settings, (2) identify barriers to taking on new roles, and (3) determine how librarians are developing the capacity to take on new roles.

Methods:

A survey was conducted of librarians in biomedical settings.

Results:

Most biomedical librarians are taking on new roles. The most common roles selected by survey respondents include analysis and enhancement of user experiences, support for social media, support for systematic reviews, clinical informationist, help for faculty or staff with authorship issues, and implementation of researcher profiling and collaboration tools. Respondents in academic settings are more likely to report new roles than hospital librarians are, but some new roles are common in both settings. Respondents use a variety of methods to free up time for new roles, but predominant methods vary between directors and librarians and between academic and hospital respondents. Lack of time is the biggest barrier that librarians face when trying to adopt new roles. New roles are associated with increased collaboration with individuals and/or groups outside the library.

Conclusion and Implications:

This survey documents the widespread incorporation of new roles in biomedical libraries in the United States, as well as the barriers to adopting these roles and the means by which librarians are making time for them. The results of the survey can be used to inform strategic planning, succession planning, library education, and career development for biomedical librarians.     

Developing Best Practices for Technical Services Cross-Institutional Collaboration

The OhioLINK CollaboraTeS Project was initiated to support cross-institutional collaborations by building a skills inventory and by defining collaborative best practices. This article discusses what was learned and defines best practices for collaboration. The authors recommend the creation of regional technical services skills inventories, and the application of management and financial best practices to collaborations. Librarians should be confident they possess these skills because many of them have been learned in other environments. Collaboration represents a bright future for libraries struggling to meet tight budgets. Providing the tools and best practices for collaboration makes it easier for libraries to participate.     

Parents as Social Influences Encouraging Book Reading: Research Directions for Librarians’ Literacy Advocacy

Abstract

Despite the competing roles that contemporary public and school librarians juggle, advocating for youth literacy remains a priority. Both school and public librarians can support parents by providing the most current research insights to inform their approach to supporting reading in the home. Quantitative survey data from the 997 young participants illuminate the relationships between reading frequency, gender and parental encouragement. Semi-structured interviews explore the kinds of parental encouragement children perceived, allowing for an exploratory investigation to yield novel findings. While encouragement is generally being focused on the children who need it, girls receive more encouragement to read than boys even though they typically read more frequently. Reading encouragement was perceived to be related to varying parental objectives, such as valuing literacy skills and learning benefits, screen respite, providing access, shared reading, and establishing expectations, with children cognizant of parental hypocrisy in relation to low modeling. As literacy advocates, librarians can communicate that boys need to receive greater parental encouragement, encouragement may need to be high-quality to be effective, and parental modeling remains important.     

Teaching First-year Medical Students Where to Go First: Connecting Information Needs to e-resources

The purpose of this project was to introduce first-year medical students to electronic resources that are best suited for different types of background questions. Specific questions from a case study were presented, and the students generalized them into a “type” of question. They then identified the best e-resources for that type of question. This is their first introduction to the lifelong learning competency in the Indiana University School of Medicine competency-based curriculum.     

Three Times a Study: Business Students and the Library

Revisiting a study performed 30 years ago, researchers at three institutions surveyed undergraduate and graduate students in marketing courses to determine their attitudes toward and knowledge of library services and collections. Results found that 21st-century students are more likely to believe in the importance of library research, to have had library instruction, and to use Web sites and Internet search engines to begin their research. However, they are less likely to read business periodicals. Faced with a list of information sources, they are generally able to pick out a useful resource, although not always the most efficient. Implications for library service to business students are discussed.     

Muslim,Too: Navigating Multiple Identities at an American University

Although Muslims have a significant presence at American universities, they are largely ignored by campus policies and resources and may find it difficult to reconcile their university experience with their religious values and practices. Using bicultural acculturation as a theoretical lens along with interviews and document analysis, this exploratory study of ten Muslim students at one university suggests that students have acquired the tools to successfully navigate membership in both American and Muslim cultural groups, evaluating each setting before invoking a particular identity. However, the acculturation process does not require any change by the institution. While participants described a need to adopt situationally-appropriate behaviors, they did not expect accommodation from the university or their peers.