Transcript Advocacy for Medical Libraries
Slide 1
Advocacy for
Medical Libraries
Kelly Rose
LIS 600
UNC Greensboro
October 23, 2013
Slide 2
The Issue: Survival
“The status of hospital librarians has concerned the Medical Library
Association (MLA) for many years. As regulations, standards, and the
economy have cycled through changes, hospital librarians have been
challenged to demonstrate their value and avoid downsizing or closure of
their libraries” (Thibodeau, 2009, p. 273).
Slide 3
What can we do?
“Advocacy. We need to constantly tell administrators that what we do
is mission critical and essential to quality patient care and
economically sound. Without this understanding, more administrators
will continue to think that everything is available on the web or a
librarian can be replaced with one database” (Ennis and Mitchell,
2010, p.160).
Slide 4
Standards
•
The set of parameters we use to determine what is acceptable
•
A level of expectations designed to bring out the best in us
•
Realistic, consistent guidelines set to help us attain our goals
•
An adaptable goal set at a challenging, but achievable level in which
a framework can be developed to assist in reaching that goal
•
A tool to measure (a rival’s product) in order to compare it with and
improve one’s own product
(Funk, 2008, p. 252)
Slide 5
Benchmarking
•
Comparative - Compare performance measures such as budget or
quantity of services
•
Process - Compare library practices and processes such as how many
days interlibrary loans take to process
(Funk, 2008)
Slide 6
Tips
•
Present standards in a way that the library’s
institution or financing body understands them.
•
Benchmark against others who are comparable to them in size of
community or types of patrons served, mission, institutional budget, etc.
(Funk, 2008)
Slide 7
Advocacy in Action
•
Use standards and benchmarks
To identify areas of improvement
To communicate value to administrators
•
Utilize advocacy resources provided by MLA and regional
professional organizations
Slide 8
References
Beales, D. (2012). Areas for Improvement in Medical library Advocacy: In Our Own Words. Journal Of Hospital Librarianship, 12, p. 208217.
Ennis, L. & Mitchell, N. (2010). The Accidental Health Sciences Librarian. Medford, NJ. Information Today, Inc.
Flannery, M. (2010). Advocating for History and the Health Sciences Libraries and Librarians: A Position Paper by the History of the
Health Sciences Section, Medical Association. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 98(1), p.9-11. doi: 10.3163/15365050.98.1.006Library A
Funk, C. (2008). Using Standards to Make Your Case: Examples from the Medical Library Community. New Library World, 109(5/6), p.
251-257. doi: 10.1108/03074800810873597
Goldstein, H. (2011). Developing a Strategic Plan for Transitioning to Healthcare Knowledge Services Centers. Journal Of Hospital
Librarianship, 11(4), p. 379-387.
Johnson, Michael. (2008). Apple and Orange - they do not compare. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_and_Orange__they_do_not_compare.jpg
Medical Library Association. MLA's Librarian Survival Kit. (2007). http://www.mlanet.org/resources/survive/index.html
National Network of Libraries of Medicine. Advocacy for Librarians and Libraries. (2013). http://nnlm.gov/pnr/advocacy/
Sherwill-Navarro, P. & Wallace, A. (2004). Research on the Value of Medical Library Services: Does it Make an Impact in the Health Car e
Literature? Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92(1), p. 34-45.
Thibodeau, P. & Funk, C. (2009). Trends in Hospital Librarianship and Hospital Library Services: 1989 to 2006. Journal of the Medical
Librarian Association, 97(4), p.273-279. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.97.4.011
Zenan, J. (2003). The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries’ Legislative Activities and the Joint Medical Library
Association/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries Legislative Task Force. Journal of the Medical Library Association,
92(2), p. 168-172.
Advocacy for
Medical Libraries
Kelly Rose
LIS 600
UNC Greensboro
October 23, 2013
Slide 2
The Issue: Survival
“The status of hospital librarians has concerned the Medical Library
Association (MLA) for many years. As regulations, standards, and the
economy have cycled through changes, hospital librarians have been
challenged to demonstrate their value and avoid downsizing or closure of
their libraries” (Thibodeau, 2009, p. 273).
Slide 3
What can we do?
“Advocacy. We need to constantly tell administrators that what we do
is mission critical and essential to quality patient care and
economically sound. Without this understanding, more administrators
will continue to think that everything is available on the web or a
librarian can be replaced with one database” (Ennis and Mitchell,
2010, p.160).
Slide 4
Standards
•
The set of parameters we use to determine what is acceptable
•
A level of expectations designed to bring out the best in us
•
Realistic, consistent guidelines set to help us attain our goals
•
An adaptable goal set at a challenging, but achievable level in which
a framework can be developed to assist in reaching that goal
•
A tool to measure (a rival’s product) in order to compare it with and
improve one’s own product
(Funk, 2008, p. 252)
Slide 5
Benchmarking
•
Comparative - Compare performance measures such as budget or
quantity of services
•
Process - Compare library practices and processes such as how many
days interlibrary loans take to process
(Funk, 2008)
Slide 6
Tips
•
Present standards in a way that the library’s
institution or financing body understands them.
•
Benchmark against others who are comparable to them in size of
community or types of patrons served, mission, institutional budget, etc.
(Funk, 2008)
Slide 7
Advocacy in Action
•
Use standards and benchmarks
To identify areas of improvement
To communicate value to administrators
•
Utilize advocacy resources provided by MLA and regional
professional organizations
Slide 8
References
Beales, D. (2012). Areas for Improvement in Medical library Advocacy: In Our Own Words. Journal Of Hospital Librarianship, 12, p. 208217.
Ennis, L. & Mitchell, N. (2010). The Accidental Health Sciences Librarian. Medford, NJ. Information Today, Inc.
Flannery, M. (2010). Advocating for History and the Health Sciences Libraries and Librarians: A Position Paper by the History of the
Health Sciences Section, Medical Association. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 98(1), p.9-11. doi: 10.3163/15365050.98.1.006Library A
Funk, C. (2008). Using Standards to Make Your Case: Examples from the Medical Library Community. New Library World, 109(5/6), p.
251-257. doi: 10.1108/03074800810873597
Goldstein, H. (2011). Developing a Strategic Plan for Transitioning to Healthcare Knowledge Services Centers. Journal Of Hospital
Librarianship, 11(4), p. 379-387.
Johnson, Michael. (2008). Apple and Orange - they do not compare. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_and_Orange__they_do_not_compare.jpg
Medical Library Association. MLA's Librarian Survival Kit. (2007). http://www.mlanet.org/resources/survive/index.html
National Network of Libraries of Medicine. Advocacy for Librarians and Libraries. (2013). http://nnlm.gov/pnr/advocacy/
Sherwill-Navarro, P. & Wallace, A. (2004). Research on the Value of Medical Library Services: Does it Make an Impact in the Health Car e
Literature? Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92(1), p. 34-45.
Thibodeau, P. & Funk, C. (2009). Trends in Hospital Librarianship and Hospital Library Services: 1989 to 2006. Journal of the Medical
Librarian Association, 97(4), p.273-279. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.97.4.011
Zenan, J. (2003). The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries’ Legislative Activities and the Joint Medical Library
Association/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries Legislative Task Force. Journal of the Medical Library Association,
92(2), p. 168-172.