Medical Library Liaison programmes have evolved over the past 30 years, originating from medical reference librarians providing clinical information services through programmes recognized as clinical librarianship. With the proliferation of medical knowledge and burgeoning electronic publishing and access to information, librarians are moving steadily towards active partnerships with medical researchers and clinicians to provide efficient information services at points of care and in their research environments. This course will combine lecture and discussion elements with small group learning exercises to provide an overview and suggestions for the creation, planning and implementation of a medical library liaison programme. Based on the experience of the Welch Medical Library, the course instructor will cover programme definitions and design elements, a range of library and information services and where they may be performed, how many services may be offered and the extent to which they are given to patrons. The course will cover programme implementation, including elements of relationship-building between the patron/user group and the librarian/informationist and the performance of needs assessments to identify the information resources, products and services that patrons use and value. The course will also provide ideas for programme assessment and tracking program progress.

 

Biography Blair Anton is the Associate Director, Clinical Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. She was clinical librarian at the same institution from 2006-2009. She has a Masters degree in addiction counselling (1990) and a Master of Library Science degree (2005). She has a wide professional experience in health care, both in managerial and teaching posts, and in medical librarianship. She is co-author of two peer-reviewed publications.