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.

Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians: Addressing the Hospital’s Information and Training Needs: White Paper Executive Summary

From saving hospitals thousands of dollars per year to saving patients’ lives, hospital librarians help fulﬁll many mission-critical roles in today’s hospital. These roles include those of expert searcher, educator, community outreach provider, promoter of the practice of evidence-based medicine, disseminator of best medical practices and best business practice information, effective user of information technology, webmaster, patient safety information provider, and supporter of innovation and research. This executive summary describes critical roles for hospital librarians from a white paper to be published in the October 2009 Journal of the Medical Library Association.

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.

Myths and TRUTHS About Library Services (PowerPoint, 2MB)
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.
Bibliography for Myths and Truths About Library Services
This extensive bibliography provides citations to bolster your presentation.
White Paper: Cost Savings of Closing, Downsizing, Resource Cutting, and Outsourcing: Myth or Truth?
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.
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.
Brochure: How to Talk to Your Hospital Administrator
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

Nursing and Allied Health Resources Section (NAHRS) 2007 Magnet Coordinator Survey

Developed by the NAHRS Task Force to Create Standards for Nursing Information Resources and Services in Health Care Settings and the NAHRS Research Committee.

Report a Change in Status of a Hospital Library

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.

Vital Pathways: The Hospital Libraries Project-Final Report and Recommendations

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
Bibliography on Roles of Health Sciences Librarians: 1987 - 2008 , developed by the Task Force onVital Pathways for Hospital Librarians Medical Education Committee, 2008-09. Memebrs include Diane G. Schwartz, AHIP, Chair; Paul M Blobaum, Linda Garr Markwell, AHIP, Laurie L. Thompson, AHIP, Jean P. Shipman, AHIP , board liaison; and Carla J. Funk, CAE.

Role of Health Sciences Librarians in Patient Safety, an MLA Position Statement
MLA Position Statement that addresses why librarians must be involved in the patient safety initiatives of their organizations, and partnership opportunities and roles for librarians.

More Information

For further information or to help us improve these resources, please contact Carla Funk, funk@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x14.

Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians

Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians: Addressing the Hospital’s Information and Training Needs: White Paper Executive Summary

Myths and Truths About Library Services

Myths and TRUTHS About Library Services (PowerPoint, 2MB)

Bibliography for Myths and Truths About Library Services

White Paper: Cost Savings of Closing, Downsizing, Resource Cutting, and Outsourcing: Myth or Truth?

Brochure: Medical Librarians Raise the Hospital Bottom Line | Word | Rich Text Format

Brochure: How to Talk to Your Hospital Administrator