New Directions in Health Sciences Libraries in Canada: Research and Evidence based Practice Are Key

Abstract

This article is the second in a new series in this regular feature. The intention of the series is to look at important global developments in health science libraries. These articles will serve as a road map, describing the key changes in the field and exploring factors driving these changes. The present article by two Canadian librarians identifies important national developments which are shaping the profession such as the centralisation of health care services, the challenge of providing consumer health information in the absence of a national strategy, government recognition of the need to recognise and respond to the health needs of indigenous peoples and the growing emphasis on managing research data. Although their profession is strong, health science librarians must find ways of providing enhanced services with fewer staff and demonstrate value to organisations. JM.

Canadian Health Libraries’ Responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action: A Literature Review and Content Analysis

“…Achievement of the TRC's goals requires the work of all Canadians, in every sector, but it is of vital importance in the provision of health care, which concerns matters of life and death. An article in the September issue of the Health Information & Libraries Journal has identified improving Indigenous health and library services as a key goal for health sciences libraries in Canada, following the release of the TRC report [34]. In that spirit, we encourage more Canadian health libraries to publicly declare their support for the TRC calls to action, and to commit to initiatives that directly respond to the recommendations.…”

New directions in health sciences libraries in China

“…Although librarians work in a variety of settings, Chinese health librarianship as a profession is diverse, strong and flourishing as Heather Ganshorn notes (Ganshorn & Giustini, ). In spite of various challenges, such as underfunding, coping with technological innovations and the pressure to provide enhanced services with few staff, Chinese health sciences librarians are optimistic with their future and believe they can provide value by acquiring new skills and competencies by engaging in training and lifelong learning.…”

Global trends health science libraries: Part 1

“…Canada (Ganshorn & Giustini, 2017) New technologies and new models of knowledge dissemination have created new roles for health librarians, particularly in academic institutions (p. 256). Despite demonstrating value, in the current fiscal environment, Canadian health libraries are still facing increasing financial pressures.…”

“…Canada (Ganshorn & Giustini, 2017) In Canadian health care facilities, librarians are increasingly taking on more roles that involve embeddedness in teams or other forms of research support. Germany (Knüttel et al, 2020) In recent years, university libraries in Germany have built up research data management services….…”