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MLA Satellite Teleconference
Roles and Essential Skills for the Expert Searcher

Wednesday, March 10, 2004
1:00 p.m., central time

To top of page Goals and Objectives

Goals

Beginning in the mid-1980s, the development of user-friendly search interfaces served as the catalyst to transform the role of the librarian or information specialist from one of expert searcher to that of consultant and online instructor. More recently, increased emphasis on evidence-based practice and the role of the librarian as a member of a clinical or research team, as well as the need for more vigilance about the quality of literature searching have all pointed toward a reinvigorated role for the expert searching services of the librarian.

The goals of this teleconference are to give attendees an overview of the basic concepts of expert searching, to explore the issues involved in developing and retaining expert skills, and to promote expert search services as an important means of institutional support. Additionally, the teleconference serves as an introduction to the MLA Policy Statement: "Role of Expert Searching in Health Sciences Libraries."

Objectives

At the end of this teleconference, attendees will be able to:

  • Define the concepts of expert searching and expert searchers
  • Identify and describe the various components of the expert search process
  • Identify and describe situations in which the knowledge and skills of expert searchers are essential
  • Cite "high impact areas" in which consultation with an expert searcher and the provision of an expert search are critical to institutional decision-making
  • Explore avenues by which health information professionals/health sciences librarians may become and remain expert searchers

                 Thanks to our MLANET sponsors!

Thanks to Rittenhouse for their sponsorship of MLANET.

Thanks to Nature Publishing Group for their sponsorship of MLANET.

Thanks to The Endocrine Society for their sponsorship of the MLA website!

                 Thanks to our MLANET sponsors!