Ifla Informationist Final

Informationist or Information Informationist or Information Specialist in Context: Who is Specialist in Context: Who is this?this?

Jean P. ShipmanJean P. Shipman Medical Library Association (U.S.]Medical Library Association (U.S.] PresidentPresident [email protected]@vcu.edu

How did the concept How did the concept begin?begin?

Davidoff and Florance article in Davidoff and Florance article in 2000 – 2000 –

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Davidoff F, Florance V. The Davidoff F, Florance V. The

informationist: a new health informationist: a new health profession? [editorial]. Ann Int Med. profession? [editorial]. Ann Int Med. 2000 Jun 20. 132(12):996–8. 2000 Jun 20. 132(12):996–8.

Why the Need?Why the Need?

Clinical questions should be Clinical questions should be answered on the basis of evidenceanswered on the basis of evidence

Health care providers don’t take Health care providers don’t take time to review evidence – time, time to review evidence – time, vast amounts, retrieval skills, etc.vast amounts, retrieval skills, etc.

Clinicians need concise, Clinicians need concise, synthesized review of literature synthesized review of literature that is readily availablethat is readily available

What’s different about this What’s different about this person?person?

more specialized clinical training than more specialized clinical training than health sciences librarians typically have health sciences librarians typically have

informationist takes part in a nationally informationist takes part in a nationally recognized standard curriculum, has recognized standard curriculum, has appropriate training and accreditation appropriate training and accreditation

answers directly to clinical directors and answers directly to clinical directors and chiefs of staff, and their services will be chiefs of staff, and their services will be paid for directly, as is done for other paid for directly, as is done for other health care providers. health care providers.

model is clinic driven, not library driven. model is clinic driven, not library driven.

Concept Sat Until…Concept Sat Until…

Scott Plutchak, then editor of the Scott Plutchak, then editor of the BMLA, issued a call for action to BMLA, issued a call for action to MLA membersMLA members

--------------------------------------------------------------------

T. Scott Plutchak , Informationists T. Scott Plutchak , Informationists and librarians. Bull Med Libr Assoc. and librarians. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 2000 October; 88(4): 391–392. 2000 October; 88(4): 391–392.

Initial ExplorationInitial Exploration

MLA Task Force charged in May of MLA Task Force charged in May of 20012001

Philadelphia conference and JMLA Philadelphia conference and JMLA symposia symposia • J Med Libr Assoc. 2002 January; J Med Libr Assoc. 2002 January;

90(1 ]90(1 ]

Invitational conference , April 4-5, 2002Invitational conference , April 4-5, 2002

Initial Exploration Initial Exploration continued…continued…

Conference summary –Conference summary –Shipman JP, Cunningham DJ, Holst R, Watson LA.

The informationist conference: report. J Med Libr Assoc. 2002 Oct ; 90 (4) : 458-64.

MLANET.org website has rich MLANET.org website has rich content of events including content of events including video clips of conferencevideo clips of conference

Resulting Action AgendaResulting Action Agenda

Agenda presented to MLA Board Agenda presented to MLA Board Sept. 2002Sept. 2002

Plan posted on MLANETPlan posted on MLANET• more than just MLA involvementmore than just MLA involvement• many partners neededmany partners needed• will take time to implementwill take time to implement• will require funding sources will require funding sources • actions may change as progress is madeactions may change as progress is made

Further ConversationsFurther Conversations

Web chat held May 9, 2002Web chat held May 9, 2002 Open Forum held at Dallas MLA Open Forum held at Dallas MLA

meeting 2002meeting 2002 Chapter Roundtables held at MLA Chapter Roundtables held at MLA

20022002 Individual institutions addressed Individual institutions addressed

topictopic

Change of NameChange of Name

Board addressed comments received Board addressed comments received at January 2003 meetingat January 2003 meeting

ISIC – Information Specialist in ISIC – Information Specialist in Context birthedContext birthed

Why?Why? Appointed Implementation Task Force Appointed Implementation Task Force Approved hiring a consultant for Approved hiring a consultant for

further review of concept – Vanderbilt further review of concept – Vanderbilt U -3/04U -3/04

Consultant Report Consultant Report

Released May 2006Released May 2006 Created 5 scenarios for different arenasCreated 5 scenarios for different arenas Librarians and health providers polledLibrarians and health providers polled Results posted on MLANET members siteResults posted on MLANET members site Results shared at MLA 2006 Open ForumResults shared at MLA 2006 Open Forum

• Questions – how do we get there?Questions – how do we get there?• More acceptance of concept More acceptance of concept

Consultant FindingsConsultant Findings

Provided results of surveys, focus Provided results of surveys, focus groups and interviews with practicing groups and interviews with practicing informationists (ninformationists (nss=274, 39]=274, 39]

Presented training and assessment Presented training and assessment frameworksframeworks

Addressed funding and Addressed funding and communication mechanisms for role communication mechanisms for role diffusiondiffusion

MLA Implementation of MLA Implementation of ReportReport

Started May 2006Started May 2006 Divided recommendations among Divided recommendations among

units for further actionunits for further action• Continuing education keyContinuing education key• Partnering with othersPartnering with others• Communicating and PublishingCommunicating and Publishing• Eventually – evaluation and R.O.I. Eventually – evaluation and R.O.I.

valuevalue

Theme 1Theme 1

Clarify informationist definitions and identify and promulgate descriptive roles for these professionals, be they health sciences librarians or other information specialists working in context.

StrategiesStrategies

1.1 Support testing of the informationist concept

1.2 Inventory and critically analyze current examples of in-context information specialists and their funding

--------------------------------------…Definition still unclear or uniformly applied…Lots of variations on the theme…1.2 did recently with AAHSL listserv


1.3 Develop practice protocols and standards for informationist activities

1.4 Identify potential ideal backgrounds and traits for informationists

-----------……consultant report outlines perceived consultant report outlines perceived

skills and educational needsskills and educational needs

Theme 2Theme 2

Encourage systematic evaluation and dissemination of findings on the costs and benefits of providing in context information specialist services.


2.1 Support research to determine the financial aspects of an informationist

2.2 Support research to determine

the impact of an informationist


2.3 Encourage NLM to fund evaluation studies on the cost and benefits of an informationist

2.4 Identify experts to assist with research / evaluation design of informationists

-------------…Too early to do serious evaluation

Theme 3Theme 3

Promote and support the entry of health sciences librarians and other interested health professionals into informationist positions. Effectively articulate informationist expertise domains to potential employers.


3.1 Publicize the role and accomplishments of in-context information specialists

3.2 Gather and highlight successful outcomes; include anecdotal evidence of improvement


3.3 Encourage early adoption of the informationist concept by creating educational opportunities for key adopters

3.4 Identify potential partners to promote/market the concept

----------- …jobs are being offered…of interest to second career individuals…MLA News articles highlight informationists

Theme 4Theme 4

Obtain funding to implement objectives and fund pilots.


4.1 Identify potential funding agencies

4.2 Encourage the funding of informationists

4.3 Outline and promote financial support models for an informationist based on research

-------…NLM Fellowships…Positions within institutions

Theme 5Theme 5

Identify and publicize opportunities for informationists training.


5.1 Explore and test various training methods

5.2 Develop critical mass of faculty to support informationist training

5.3 Identify organizations already providing or willing to provide specialty training for informationist and encourage partnerships


5.4 Develop model curricula for professionals who wish to enter information specialties

5.5 Encourage NLM to fund training for informationists in the various arenas and curricular development

----- ----- …still institutional-based…NLM Long Range Planning Report 2006…MLANET list of institutions willing to host

fellows

Meanwhile…Meanwhile…

NLM funded 2-year fellowships to test NLM funded 2-year fellowships to test models (2004+, individual throughout]models (2004+, individual throughout]

Training, a practicum, and research project Training, a practicum, and research project 3 librarians, 3 other types of professionals3 librarians, 3 other types of professionals Types of models funded:Types of models funded:

• Public Health – Hopkins, U Michigan, U of IowaPublic Health – Hopkins, U Michigan, U of Iowa• Consumer Health/Social Work – VCUConsumer Health/Social Work – VCU• Clinical Practice – HopkinsClinical Practice – Hopkins• Research – North Carolina Central UResearch – North Carolina Central U

Jobs are being offeredJobs are being offered

AAHSL surveyAAHSL survey • (July 21 , 2006; n=34; clinical & research (July 21 , 2006; n=34; clinical & research

focused]focused]– National Institutes of Health (16)National Institutes of Health (16)– University of Pittsburgh [8]University of Pittsburgh [8]– U of Florida [2]U of Florida [2]– Houston Academy of Medicine, UTHSCSAHouston Academy of Medicine, UTHSCSA– University of IndianaUniversity of Indiana– NorthwesternNorthwestern– UCSF, UCSD, USC, Stanford University UCSF, UCSD, USC, Stanford University

International – more advanced ?International – more advanced ?

More Information Needed?More Information Needed?

Consult:Consult:

https://www.mlanet.org/https://www.mlanet.org/research/research/

informationist/informationist/

Health & Medicine

Ifla Informationist Final