Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians
The MLA Vital Pathways Task Force is charged to review existing data and trends in the status of hospital librarians, collect data on the links between libraries and quality and financial outcomes, and develop an action plan for MLA to use this information to influence hospital decision-makers and key leaders in the health care field.
The following resources are a first step in helping hospital librarians communicate with other leaders in their institutions about the true value of librarians and library services.
Myths and Truths About Library Services
Developed by the Colorado Council of Medical Librarians (CCML) Advocacy Committee and MLA, 2006. CCML members include: Margaret Bandy, AHIP, Jenny Garcia, AHIP, Stephanie Weldon, AHIP, and Karen K. Wells.
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What myths do your administrators believe? Do they think that patient care can remain high quality without library services? Do they believe everything is available for free on the Web, or that technology has replaced librarians? Perhaps they think that closing your library will save money. Counter these and other common myths with this presentation, which you can revise to meet your specific needs.
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This extensive bibliography provides citations to bolster your presentation.
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This white paper explores the myths and truths about the need for librarians and library services. Used with permission; This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
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Brochure: Medical Librarians Raise the Hospital Bottom Line | Word
| Rich Text Format
This brochure is available for you to download, adjust, and brand with your own library information. Inform your administrators how you as a medical librarian impact patient safety, cost savings, and more.
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Need tips on approaching your hospital administrator? This brochure provides talking points you can use to counter standard "we can save money by eliminating / downsizing / outsourcing the medical library."
American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Whitepaper HTML | PDF
Developed by the NAHRS Task Force to Create Standards for Nursing
Information Resources and Services in Health Care Settings and the NAHRS Research Committee.
The Medical Library Association wants to track and respond to major changes that are occurring in hospital libraries. We ask hospital librarians to report both positive and negative changes to their libraries. You may also request that MLA contact the hospital administrator about the change. The information that is reported will be kept confidential; individual librarians and hospitals will not be identified and only aggregate data about changes in hospital libraries will be reported by MLA.
Additional Resources
- National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), New England Region, Hospital Library Toolkits
Online orientation and promotional toolkits; the promotional toolkit is designed to aid hospital librarians in promoting their services to hospital administrators and to the various communities within their organization.
- MLA Health Information Literacy Project
The Medical Library Association (MLA), through a $250,000 two-year contract from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is conducting research into hospital-based health care provider and administrators’ awareness and understanding of health information literacy and its value in support of patient care.
- Brochure: The Hospital Librarian: Your Competitive Edge
, developed by the Task Force on Vital Pathways for Hospital
Librarians Steering Committee, 2008. Members include
M. J. Tooey, AHIP, Chair;
Jean P. Shipman, AHIP; Margaret M. Bandy, AHIP; Dixie A. Jones, AHIP; Joanne G. Marshall, AHIP, FMLA; Mary F. Protsman, AHIP; Katherine Stemmer-Frumento, AHIP; and
Carla J. Funk, CAE
More Information
For further information or to help us improve these resources, please contact Carla Funk, funk@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x14.
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