I totally agree with Donna's plea for activism and professionalism. We
need to move from anecdotes to research...how does a professional
librarian impact outcomes; how do we impact the use of evidence based
practice and resources. Compare hospitals with a librarian and without
The library schools and universities can certainly embark on this type
of research. 
Just as an example, I am involved with our EBP classes with our nurses.
We have surveyed our nurses with a wonderful tool and show clearly that
our nurses believe that their Athens password to our medical resources
is significantly important to their use of EBP- a big part of the Magnet
scene. There is much more to this survey but it is just one example of
how studies can show the importance of a professional librarian involved
in teaching can lead to improved clinical outcomes. 

Patti Reynolds
941-917-1730


-----Original Message-----
From: Medical Libraries Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Donna Beales
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 8:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: sad state of a hospital library (long)

I confess that the behavior of those who have responded to this story
worries me greatly.

I have read all of the posts in today's digest version before posting.
I observe that responses are generally:

1. Emotional
2. Anecdotal

This is critical.  We must move beyond emotionalism and "In my library
thus-and-so..." types of responses to a more political stance, and we
must do so **immediately.**

The lack of a qualified **librarian**, not library, in a healthcare
facility is an unambiguous risk management issue, and Tone Mendoza
nailed the zeitgeist of this most accurately.

But the response from our community, at least on this forum, lacks any
attempt at solution.  We seem to enjoy the hand-wringing and war-story
swapping, but nowhere have I seen posts to the effect of "Here in XYZ
state, we approached our medical association..." or "MLA is doing
thus-and-so..."  The lack of such posts it very telling.  Meanwhile,
closings and lay-offs continue apace.

I come out of public libraries but have almost 14 years in medical
librarianship now.  Public libraries *routinely* discuss such important
collaborations and actively lobby for themselves.  To date, I have not
seen this type of behavior from our ranks.

I would also like to make this comment.  The strange and somewhat rude
comments I received privately the last time I responded with
professionalism to this type of scenario also worries me.  

If I receive any this time, it is my intention to repost them to the
list, so caveat emptor!  Let's all be grown-ups here, and should you
want to take me to task at least have the professionalism and courtesy
to do so in a public venue.  

I personally was unaware that I had done anything more than point out
something that should be obvious, and critically important, to all.

Herein, I have cc'd Dixie Jones, the incoming President of MLA.  


Donna Beales, MLIS
Lowell General Hospital
Health Science Library
295 Varnum Ave.
Lowell, MA 01854
Email: dbeales AT lowellgeneral.org
http://www.lowellgeneral.org/library
Tel. 978-937-6247
Fax 978-937-6855

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