Standards for hospital libraries 2002
Michael Kronenfeld2002, Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA
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Abstract
The Medical Library Association's "Standards for Hospital Libraries 2002" have been developed as a guide for hospital administrators, librarians, and accrediting bodies to ensure that hospitals have the resources and services to effectively meet their needs for knowledge-based information. Specific requirements for knowledge-based information include that the library be a separate department with its own budget. Knowledge-based information in the library should be directed by a qualified librarian who functions as a department head and is a member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals. The standards define the role of the medical librarian and the links between knowledge-based information and other functions such as patient care, patient education, performance improvement, and education. In addition, the standards address the development and implementation of the knowledge-based information needs assessment and plans, the promotion and publicity of the kno...
Key takeaways
- The Medical Library Association's ''Standards for Hospital Libraries 2002'' have been developed as a guide for hospital administrators, librarians, and accrediting bodies to ensure that hospitals have the resources and services to effectively meet their needs for knowledgebased information (KBI).
- In support of this mission, the role of the medical librarian includes: coordinating the function of the library with the primary mission of the institution Ⅲ strategic planning for library operations Ⅲ budgeting for library operations Ⅲ providing effective leadership in KBI Ⅲ recommending appropriate professional and support staffing for the library Ⅲ recommending appropriate space for the library Ⅲ developing and implementing KBI-related policies and procedures Ⅲ developing a performance improvement program for the KBI function Ⅲ hiring and evaluating the performance of the library staff Ⅲ providing training and educational opportunities for the library staff Ⅲ selecting and evaluating information resources in any format for incorporation into the physical or virtual collection Ⅲ evaluating new information technologies and assessing their application to library management and services Ⅲ negotiating license agreements with vendors of publications and databases Ⅲ responding in a timely manner to all requests for information related to patient care or patient safety Ⅲ performing mediated searches of Internet and KBI resources Ⅲ training users in searching and evaluating information resources Ⅲ providing tailored information to groups or individuals within the institution Ⅲ performing other activities as appropriate Reliance on a commercial electronic resource for clinical information cannot substitute for a qualified medical librarian.
- The library serves not only clinical staff, but other groups within the hospital, including: Ⅲ residents and interns in medical and other programs Ⅲ nursing staff Ⅲ administrative and managerial staff Ⅲ research staff Ⅲ allied health staff Ⅲ staff in offsite locations Ⅲ students in affiliated programs Ⅲ patients and their families Ⅲ other groups as applicable Promotion of services may take the form of: Ⅲ announcements to hospital and medical staff of new services, resources, or offerings Ⅲ inclusion of library services and resources in orien-tation of interns and residents, if applicable, and new medical and hospital staff members Ⅲ activities in observance of National Library Week or National Medical Librarians Month Ⅲ bibliographies on special topics Ⅲ participation in information fairs or authors' day celebrations Ⅲ promotion of existing current awareness services or proactive provision of these services Ⅲ plans for reaching library nonusers Ⅲ participation in new employee orientations Ⅲ presentations to groups on what the library can offer them
- A separate office will be provided for at least the professional library staff.
- 1. identify objectives with the hospital administrator, library staff, or library committee or a combination thereof and other appropriate hospital personnel 2. negotiate a contractual agreement with the hospital administrator that would include: Ⅲ consultant and client responsibilities Ⅲ purpose of consultation Ⅲ period of contract Ⅲ number and frequency of visits or amount of time to be spent by consultant during the contractual period Ⅲ verbal and written reporting mechanisms Ⅲ fee for service Ⅲ terms of termination by either party 3. conduct a needs assessment for library services profiling all disciplines in the total hospital environment; functional elements identified may include: Ⅲ placement of library staff within the hospital organizational structure Ⅲ job descriptions for library staff Ⅲ library staff recruitment, training, and development Ⅲ budget Ⅲ facility planning and space allocation Ⅲ policies and procedures Ⅲ availability of current materials for each discipline at the hospital Ⅲ acquisition, cataloging, arrangement, organization, and evaluation of library materials in any format Ⅲ negotiation of licensing agreements with vendors of electronic resources Ⅲ answering of reference questions, performance of searches of KBI resources, and provision of other information Ⅲ circulation or control of materials Ⅲ notification of hospital staff of new information in their areas of interest Ⅲ audiovisual services Ⅲ provision of patient education materials Ⅲ promotion of library services Ⅲ cooperation with other libraries 4. provide specific written recommendations for administrator, library manager, library committee, or a combination thereof 5. develop a methodology for implementation of recommendations by hospital employee(s) assigned to the library 6. evaluate and assess progress regularly during the contractual period Patient education: The provision of information to help inpatients or outpatients, or their family members, understand and cope with the condition for which they are receiving medical care.
