Practicality vs Theory

Ivonne Martinez, MLISMichele Malloy, MALIS

Dahlgren Memorial LibraryGeorgetown University Medical

Center

PurposeAre library schools offering a curriculum that encompasses specific aspects of special library functions?Are we preparing health sciences librarians?

Literature Review

Expectations

Survey MethodsSurveyMonkeyOnly One Logic Point15 Closed Questions, 1 Comment Box

Inclusion CriteriaHealth SciencesALA Accredited DegreeNewly Graduated (Past 5 Years)Geographic Area (U.S. Schools)

Listservs:medlib‐listAAHSL listhls‐listili.listnewlib‐listCAPHIS

Blogs:Krafty LibrarianMusings of a Medical LibrarianDavid Rothman

Others:Ellen DetlefsenIndividual Emails

34%

25%

18%

9%14%

Length of Tenure

> 1 year1‐2 years2‐3 years3‐4 years4‐5 years

59%35%

4% 2%

Type of Library

Academic LibraryHospital LibraryResearch InstitutionAssociation

Completed Responses : n=204

Ref & Research SupportLibrary InstructionOutreach & Liaison

CollectionsPublic Services

Web DevelopmentAdministration

MarketingResearch Collaboration

Curriculum‐Int. InstructionSystems

Patient EducationInformatics

174132

10083

74565451

4544

3530

16

Main Professional Duties



46 Distinct Programs

U Pittsburgh (14)U North Texas (13)San Jose State U (9)Drexel University (8)Kent State University (8)University of Arizona (8)UI Urbana‐Champaign (8)UWisconsin Milwaukee (7)Wayne State University (7)

31%

16%33%

20%

Did you focus on HS during your Grad

Program?

Primary Focus

Strong Focus

One Consideration

Not a Consideration


Yes77%

Unsure7%

No16%

HS Courses Offered?

141%

026%

5+5%

45%

310%

213%

If ‘Yes’,Number of Completed Courses:

Yes58%No

9%

Maybe33%

If ‘No’, Would you have taken?

Prepared17%

Somewhat Prepared

68%

Unprepared15%

Based on your MLS coursework, did you feel prepared for the job duties of a HS Librarian?


Completed

OfferedHS Libraries

HS Internship Independent

Study Online Resources in

HS

Health Informatics

83

52

34 41

28

9471

65

5046


MLS Courses: Offered & Completed


Course Importance Ratings

#1Online Resources in HS

#2 Intro to HS Libraries

#3 EBM & the Medical Librarian

#4 HS Internship

#5 Controlled Vocab in Medicine 3%

35%

5%

46%

25%

Reported Course Availability

0 1 2 3

EBMComm. with HS Prof

Admin & Mgmt.Consumer Health

Scholarly ActivitiesCataloging

Outreach & MarketingColl. Dev. & Resource Mgmt.

InstructionDigital & WebClient Services

Reference

1.531.661.721.791.791.81.831.911.9622

2.3

Preparedness Rating: 1(Unprepared) – 3 (Prepared)


Of 204 participants, 123 (60%) included comments.

Internships: 22% (27)Work Experience (Staff, Graduate Asst.): 26% (32)Former HS Careers: 8% (10)MLS Programs Won’t/Shouldn’t Change: 11% (14)Vendor Relations & Subscriptions: 7% (9)Hospital/Solo Librarians are Distinct: 7% (8)


OverviewFuture Plans

Continued Analysis of DataHospital vs. AcademicIndividual MLS Programs

Comparative StudyLibrary Managers’ Perspective

Partner with Other Sub‐GroupsSlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/michelynn

http://www.slideshare.net/michelynn