Medical library
A health or medical library is designed to assist physicians, health professionals, students, patients, consumers, medical researchers and information specialists in finding health and scientific information to improve, update, assess or evaluate health care. Medical libraries are typically found in hospitals, medical schools, private industry and in medical or health associations. A typical health or medical library has access to MEDLINE, a range of electronic resources, print and digital journal collections and print reference books. The influence of open access (OA) and free searching via Google and PubMed has a major impact on the way medical libraries operate.
To become accredited, every American and Canadian college of medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or public health is required to have a health or medical library appropriate to the needs of the school, as specified by an accrediting body, such as the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)'s standards. These accreditation standards include having qualified library staff on hand to answer reference questions, and provide training in using electronic resources. Some academic medical libraries are located in the same building as the general undergraduate library but most are located near or in the medical college or faculty.
The United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the largest biomedical library in the world, and collects and provides access to some of the best health information in the world (due to its linkage to the National Institutes of Health). The NLM maintains numerous medical and genomic databases, searchable via its Entrez search system, including MEDLINE (PubMed) and OMIM (a genetic traits database).
In support of open access to the journal literature, the U.S. NLM established an online library of digital journal articles, PubMed Central (PMC), which will soon be supplemented by a UK version. NLM works with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) to provide regional medical library support in the United States, while its consumer health information service MEDLINEplus offers free access to health information, images and interactive tutorials. Many countries like Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have well-developed medical libraries, though nothing quite as evolved as the U.S. NLM.
The largest medical library in Europe is the German National Library of Medicine (ZB MED), which also has collections in the fields of nutrition, agriculture, and environmental science. ZB MED operates as the official European supplier of full texts in response to searches conducted in the NLM's bibliographic databases such as PubMed, and also operates its own search portals.[1]
Medical librarians
Medical librarians are skilled professionals who assist with resources and research in the medical professions. The focus of the medical librarian is to emphasize the use of evidence based research and practice. This can be for both medical research or medical practice. As well the medical librarian is expected be a resource for assisting with publishing and presentation of research. Medical librarians use web based resources to conduct research and help generate evidence based approaches to healthcare. Organizations such as the MLA set standards for what a medical librarian should follow in practice.[2]
Associations
The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a Chicago-based advocate for library professionals and health sciences libraries - primarily in the United States. MLA maintains an online list of ALA-accredited library school programs for those who would like to pursue a master's degree in library and information studies in the US and Canada(MLIS). It furthermore administers the U.S credentialing organization for medical librarians, the Academy of Health Information Professionals(AHIP).
The Special Libraries Association has a Medical Section of the Biomedical and Life Science Division, which serves as a forum for Division members who are engaged or interested in the exchange of information in the biomedical and health sciences, and the acquisition, organization, dissemination, and use of such information in all formats.
In Canada, health librarians and libraries are represented by the Canadian Health Libraries Association.
Australia have the Health Libraries Australia Group of the Australian Library and Information Association and the Victorian state based Health Libraries Inc. In 2013, HLA introduced a PD Specialisation in 2013 leading to Association post nominals on demonstration of ongoing professional development in the field of health librarianship. A list of health libraries in Australia may by found on the website of the National Library of Australia. In 2015, Australia is undertaking a Census of health libraries and librarianship aiming to identify the full industry, locations, organisations, roles and staff employed. The first specialist "Health Librarianship Essentials" tertiary training commenced in April 2015 at the Queensland University of Technology supported by HLA.
In the United Kingdom medical (or health) librarians are represented by the Health Libraries Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. CILIP. Health Libraries Group.
The medical and health libraries of the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria and Switzerland are represented by the Medical Libraries Association Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Medizinisches Bibliothekswesen (AGMB) e.V..
There are similar, if smaller, national groups in many European countries and these groups and individual health librarians and libraries are represented by the European Association for Health Information and Libraries (EAHIL) since 1987.
For those librarians who work in very specialised subject areas there are associations and networks which focus on their subject areas, and an example of such an organisation is Elisad, the European Association of Libraries and Information Services on Addictions. Elisad
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has a Health and Biosciences Libraries Section. The last International Congress on Medical Librarianship (ICML) was in Brisbane in 2009, the next ICML will be in Boston, 2013.
US & World Medical Library Links
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
- California Pacific Medical Center/Univ Pacific School Of Dentistry (San Francisco)
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (West Hollywood)
- Drew University Of Medicine and Science
- Loma Linda University
- Lane Medical Library
- Stanford Hospital Health Library
- St. John's Regional Medical Center (Oxnard)
- St. Joseph Hospital (Orange)
- University Of California/Berkeley Optometry Library
- University Of California/Berkeley Public Health Library
- University Of California/Davis
- University Of California, Irvine, Grunigen Medical Library
- University Of California/Los Angeles
- University Of California/San Diego
- University Of California/San Francisco
- UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center
- University Of Southern California
- USC Wilson Dental Library
- USC Gerontology Center Library
- Medical Library Group Of Southern California & Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
- Hartford Hospital
- University of Connecticut Health Center
- Yale University, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library
Delaware
District Of Colombia
- Catholic University of America - Nursing/Biology Library
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University Medical Center
- Howard University
- Pan American Health Organization
Florida
- Florida International University
- Florida State University
- Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division Library (Fort Lauderdale)
- University of Florida/Gainesville
- University of Miami
- University of South Florida
Georgia
- Eisenhower Army Medical Center/SE Regional Medical Command (Fort Gordon)
- Emory University
- Georgia Health Sciences Library Association
- Mercer University
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
- American Dental Association
- Health Science Librarians of Illinois
- Loyola University
- Northwestern University
- OSF Saint Francis Medical Center (Peoria)
- Rosalind Franklin University (Chicago)
- Rush University (Chicago)
- Southern Illinois University
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois/Chicago
- University of Illinois/Peoria
- University of Illinois/Rockford
- University of Illinois/Urbana
Indiana
- Indiana University Medical Library
- Indiana University Dentistry Library
- Purdue University (Pharmacy, Nursing, Health Sciences)
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
- Ochsner Clinic Foundation (New Orleans)
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center/New Orleans
- Louisiana State University/Shreveport
- Tulane University Medical Library
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical Web
- Countway Library of Medicine
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- New England College od Optometry
- South Coast Health System (New Bedford)
- Tufts University
- University of Massachusetts
Michigan
- Botsford General Hospital (Farmington Hills)
- Henry Ford Health System (Detroit)
- Providence Hospital (Southfield)
- Synergy Medical Education Alliance (Saginaw)
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University
- Metropolitan Detroit Medical Library Group
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
- Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Saint Louis University
- University of Missouri
- University of Missouri/Kansas City
- Washington University
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
- Medical Center at Princeton
- Monmouth Medical Center (Long Branch)
- St. Peters Medical Center (New Brunswick)
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
- Albany Medical College
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Columbia University
- Columbia University Health Sciences Library
- Cornell University
- Kaleida Health Libraries (Buffalo)
- Mount Sinai
- New York Academy of Medicine
- New York Dept of Health (Albany)
- New York Medical College
- New York Methodist Hospital (Brooklyn)
- New York University
- Rockefeller University
- St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital (Newburgh)
- State University of New York/Buffalo
- State University of New York/New York (College of Optometry Vision Science Library)
- State University of New York/Stony Brook
- State University of New York/Upstate-Syracuse
- University of Rochester
- Winthrop University Hospital (Mineola)
North Carolina
- Duke University
- East Carolina University
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH)
- University of North Carolina
- Wake Forest University
North Dakota
Ohio
- Cleveland Health Sciences Library, Case Western Reserve
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Ohio State University
- University of Cincinnati
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- Drexel University (Philadelphia)
- Easton Hospital
- Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia)
- Pennsylvania State University (Hershey Medical Center)
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
- East Tennessee State University
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis)
- University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville
- University of Tennessee, Memphis
- Vanderbilt University (library)
Texas
- Baylor Health Sciences Library
- Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center
- Texas A & M
- Texas Dept of State Health Services (Austin)
- Texas Tech University
- University of North Texas-Fort Worth Health Sciences Center
- University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio
- University of Texas Health Center,Tyler
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Research Medical Library
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- University of Texas/Southwestern
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
- Overlake Hospital (Bellevue)
- University of Washington Health Sciences Library
- University of Washington Dept of Environmental Health
- Washington Medical Librarians Association
West Virginia
Wisconsin
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- St. Joseph Hospital/covenant Library System, Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin
US Territories
Australia
- Canberra Hospital
- Flinders University/Medical Library (South Australia)
- Monash University/Biomedical Library (Victoria)
- Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital/Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists
- University of Melbourne-Biomedical Library
- University of New South Wales/Biomedical Library
- University of Queensland/Biological & Health Sciences Libraries
- University of Sydney
- Women's and Children Health (Melbourne)
Canada
- Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
- Health Science Information Consortium of Toronto
- McGill University
- McMaster University
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia
- Children's/Women's Hospitals
- University of Calgary
- University of Manitoba
- University of Montreal
- University of Ottawa
- University of Saskatchewan
- University of Toronto
- University of Western Ontario
Germany
- Freie Universitaet Berlin
- German National Library of Medicine, Koeln
- Universitaats- und Landesbibliothek, Muenster, Zweigbibliothek der Medizin
- Saarlaandische Universitaats-und Landesbibliothek-Medizinische Abteilung, Homburg/Saar
- Universitaat Magdeburg, Medizinische Zentralbibliothek
United Kingdom
- Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust
- British Medical Association
- Cardiff University
- Health Libraries Group
- National Health Service (London)
- Royal College of Nursing
- South West Health Care
- Hope Hospital / University of Manchester
Other Countries
- American University of Antigua (West Indies)
- Medical University of Sofia Central Medical Library (Bulgaria)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (China)
- Zagreb University (Croatia)
- TerKko – National Library of Health Sciences(Finland )
- Helsinki University – Dental Library
- medicale.tr List of French Medical libraries, from Rouen University Hospital Medical Library
- SBC institute (Athens, Greece)
- National University of Ireland, Galway
- Hebrew University (Israel)
- Kuwait University
- Kuala Lumpur Hospital (Malaysia)
- Academic Hospital Groningen (The Netherlands)
- Hospital de Cruces (Bilbao, Spain)
- Hospital Ramon y Cajal Biblioteca (Madrid)
- University of the West Indies, St Augustine (Trinidad)
- Rashid medical library (United Arab Emirates)
See also
- Medical Library Association
- Medical Library Association of Great Britain and Ireland
- Canadian Health Libraries Association
- Margaret Ridley Charlton
- Fred Kilgour
- United States National Library of Medicine
- Osler Library of the History of Medicine
- Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library
- Wellcome Library
References
- ↑ German National Library of Medicine Partnerships (in English) retrieved 23-May-2012
- ↑ Roper FW (Jan 2006). "The Medical Library Association's professional development program: a look back at the way ahead" (PDF). J Med Libr Assoc 94 (1): 8–18. PMC 1324767. PMID 16404465.
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