Molecular Biology Information Service: an innovative medical library-based bioinformatics support service for biomedical researchers.

Biomedical researchers are increasingly reliant on obtaining bioinformatics training in order to conduct their research. Here we present a model that academic institutions may follow to provide such training for their researchers, based on the Molecular Biology Information Service (MBIS) of the Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). The MBIS runs a four-facet service with the following goals: (1) identify, procure and implement commercially licensed bioinformatics software, (2) teach hands-on workshops using bioinformatics tools to solve research questions, (3) provide in-person and email consultations on software/databases and (4) maintain a web portal providing overall guidance on the access and use of bioinformatics resources and MBIS-created webtools. This paper describes these facets of MBIS activities from 2006 to 2018, including outcomes from a survey measuring attitudes of Pitt researchers about MBIS service and performance.

Health sciences libraries in the United States: new directions.

This article is the third in a 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 the current president of the Medical Library Association outlines two important developments in the United States. The topics chosen for consideration are national initiatives in the United States impacting health sciences libraries and librarians and enhanced roles for U.S. health sciences librarians in providing support for research. J.M.

In their own words: oral histories of Medical Library Association past presidents.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this lecture was to review the development of the Medical Library Association (MLA) oral history program and to highlight the oral histories of thirty-seven past MLA presidents to identify themes of common interest and relevance to current MLA members. METHODS: The lecture focused on three main topics discussed in many of the interviews: the presidents' backgrounds and how they came to be medical librarians, how MLA developed as an organization as a reflection of the growth of medical libraries, and the presidents' predictions and advice about the future. RESULTS: MLA presidents came from varied backgrounds and locales. As MLA grew from a small, intimate group into a multifaceted organization with a professional management staff, the workload of the presidents changed in scope. One recurring theme in the presidential oral histories was the power differential between men and women in the organization and the profession. MLA presidents reminisced about notable annual meetings and praised the positive impact of the organization on members' professional and personal lives. CONCLUSIONS: The lecture concludes with recommendations to the organization to increase the availability of the oral histories by providing online access for future interviews and to pay careful attention to their long-term preservation.

Impact and user satisfaction of a clinical information portal embedded in an electronic health record.

In 2008, a clinical information tool was developed and embedded in the electronic health record system of an academic medical center. In 2009, the initial information tool, Clinical-e, was superseded by a portal called Clinical Focus, with a single search box enabling a federated search of selected online information resources. To measure the usefulness and impact of Clinical Focus, a survey was used to gather feedback about users' experience with this clinical resource. The survey determined what type of clinicians were using this tool and assessed user satisfaction and perceived impact on patient care decision making. Initial survey results suggest the majority of respondents found Clinical Focus easy to navigate, the content easy to read, and the retrieved information relevant and complete. The majority would recommend Clinical Focus to their colleagues. Results indicate that this tool is a promising area for future development.

Development of a clinical information tool for the electronic medical record: a case study.

QUESTION: What is the process of developing a clinical information tool to be embedded in the electronic health record of a very large and diverse academic medical center? SETTING: The development took place at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System. METHOD: The clinical information tool developed is a search box with subject tabs to provide quick access to designated full-text information resources. Each subject tab offers a federated search of a different pool of resources. Search results are organized "on the fly" into meaningful categories using clustering technology and are directly accessible from the results page. RESULTS: After more than a year of discussion and planning, a clinical information tool was embedded in the academic medical center's electronic health record. CONCLUSION: The library successfully developed a clinical information tool, called Clinical-e, for use at the point of care. Future development will refine the tool and evaluate its impact and effectiveness.

Hospital nurses' use of knowledge-based information resources.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the information-seeking practices of nurses before and after access to a library's electronic collection of information resources. This is a pre/post intervention study of nurses at a rural community hospital. The hospital contracted with an academic health sciences library for access to a collection of online knowledge-based resources. Self-report surveys were used to obtain information about nurses' computer use and how they locate and access information to answer questions related to their patient care activities. In 2001, self-report surveys were sent to the hospital's 573 nurses during implementation of access to online resources with a post-implementation survey sent 1 year later. At the initiation of access to the library's electronic resources, nurses turned to colleagues and print textbooks or journals to satisfy their information needs. After 1 year of access, 20% of the nurses had begun to use the library's electronic resources. The study outcome suggests ready access to knowledge-based electronic information resources can lead to changes in behavior among some nurses.

Design and implementation of a library-based information service in molecular biology and genetics at the University of Pittsburgh.

SETTING: In summer 2002, the Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh initiated an information service in molecular biology and genetics to assist researchers with identifying and utilizing bioinformatics tools. PROGRAM COMPONENTS: This novel information service comprises hands-on training workshops and consultation on the use of bioinformatics tools. The HSLS also provides an electronic portal and networked access to public and commercial molecular biology databases and software packages. EVALUATION MECHANISMS: Researcher feedback gathered during the first three years of workshops and individual consultation indicate that the information service is meeting user needs. NEXT STEPS/FUTURE DIRECTIONS: The service's workshop offerings will expand to include emerging bioinformatics topics. A frequently asked questions database is also being developed to reuse advice on complex bioinformatics questions.

Information-seeking behavior and use of information resources by clinical research coordinators.

PURPOSE: The study sought to understand the literature searching experiences and skills of clinical research coordinators at a large academic medical center. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS/RESOURCES: The Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh, conducted a survey of clinical research coordinators at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to solicit their perceived use and knowledge of the library's electronic resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a "high volume IRB" that monitors human subject research at both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. More than 3,500 human research studies and clinical trials are active at any given time. Many studies entail more than minimal risk to human subjects, with the majority evaluating or including a drug or medical device. Clinical research coordinators are involved in most of these studies or trials. Their roles and responsibilities focus on managing many aspects of the study or clinical trial. As a first step in understanding the literature searching experiences and skills of these research coordinators, baseline data were gathered from this group in November 2004. RESULTS/OUTCOME: The data from this survey indicate that clinical research coordinators are a population who would benefit from training by academic medical center librarians in how to use electronic library resources and services. EVALUATION METHOD: A Web-based survey solicited participants' information (gender, education, job title) and role in the IRB process (job responsibilities, number studies they manage). The majority of the survey questions focused on the use of specific electronic library resources, the type of information wanted, and the types of problems encountered.

Collaborating to enhance patient education and recovery.

OBJECTIVE: The paper describes a collaborative project between librarians and health care staff to enhance patient recovery by distributing educational videos and evaluating the acceptability of this "information intervention." BACKGROUND: On inpatient units, nurses experience decreased time to teach patients. Text handouts do not include multimedia information, and reading levels may limit comprehension. Because the postoperative period is not the optimal time for patient instruction, another format and opportunity for postsurgical instruction was needed. METHODS: Nurses, therapists, educators, and librarians partnered to select a video designed for home viewing by discharged patients. It was added to the existing text-based educational program for coronary patients. An evaluation component was incorporated into this collaboration. RESULTS: The library's role extended to all aspects of the program's implementation and management. The library's circulation system was used to coordinate borrowing with minimal loss. Ongoing preparation of the video materials for distribution and return remained a library function, and the evaluation component showed patients' positive reception of the video. DISCUSSION: Patients received a greater amount of information to enhance self-care during the recovery period without consuming more nursing time. Video circulation and reuse enhanced cost effectiveness of the program, and patients benefited from the library's resources.

Staff development planning in an academic health sciences library.

OBJECTIVE: A staff development committee (SDC) was convened to implement staff development opportunities for an academic health sciences library system comprised of three separate facilities. The charge for the SDC was to: (1) develop programs to enhance workplace skills and personal growth, (2) communicate the availability of existing programs at the university and medical center, and (3) encourage the staff to participate in these opportunities. PROGRAM: The committee created goals and objectives and developed a survey designed to give staff the opportunity to provide input for this initiative. With an 80% response rate, the survey results were used to plan 15 events based on staff needs and preferences. First-year attendance for SDC-sponsored events was 459. Committee members served as liaisons for each event. Two forms were developed to facilitate event planning. A monthly announcement sheet, email reminders, and the library's local area network are used to communicate upcoming SDC events and encourage attendance. CONCLUSION: This approach can serve as a useful model for similar program planning in any organization.

The role of the academic medical center library in training public librarians.

PURPOSE: This project enhanced access to and awareness of health information resources on the part of public libraries in western Pennsylvania. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS/RESOURCES: The Health Sciences Library System (HSLS), University of Pittsburgh, conducted a needs assessment and offered a series of workshops to 298 public librarians. BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The National Library of Medicine-funded project "Access to Electronic Health Information" at the HSLS, University of Pittsburgh, provided Internet health information training to public libraries and librarians in sixteen counties in western Pennsylvania. Through this project, this academic medical center library identified the challenges for public librarians in providing health-related reference service, developed a training program to address those challenges, and evaluated the impact of this training on public librarians' ability to provide health information. RESULTS/OUTCOME: The HSLS experience indicates academic medical center libraries can have a positive impact on their communities by providing health information instruction to public librarians. The success of this project--demonstrated by the number of participants, positive course evaluations, increased comfort level with health-related reference questions, and increased use of MEDLINEplus and other quality information resources--has been a catalyst for continuation of this programming, not only for public librarians but also for the public in general. EVALUATION METHOD: A training needs assessment, course evaluation, and impact training survey were used in developing the curriculum and evaluating the impact of this training on public librarians' professional activities.

Designing a curriculum on Internet health resources for deaf high school students.

PURPOSE: This paper examines the integration of instruction about quality health resources on the Internet into the health curriculum of a specialized high school for students with hearing disabilities. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS/RESOURCES: The Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh has formed a partnership with the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD). BRIEF DESCRIPTION: This project was partially funded through a subcontract with the National Library of Medicine. As one component of its Health Information for the Public project, HSLS formed a partnership with the WPSD. This partnership allowed for a librarian to provide instruction to health education and learning center teachers and students at WPSD about health resources on the Internet. This paper describes the planning process, curriculum development, and challenges encountered. These challenges include student knowledge of English as a second language, the need for a sign language interpreter, students' third-to-fourth-grade reading levels, and the need for appropriate visual presentations to accompany the audio counterpart. RESULTS/OUTCOME: The partnership formed between HSLS and WPSD improved deaf high school students' ability to locate quality health information on the Internet. EVALUATION METHOD: A pre-class survey and post-class survey were used to determine the impact of the instruction.

Online use statistics.

Online use statistics can provide libraries with a tool to be used when developing an online collection of resources. Statistics can provide information on overall use of a collection, individual print and electronic journal use, and collection use by specific user populations. They can also be used to determine the number of user licenses to purchase. This paper focuses on the issue of use statistics made available for one collection of online resources.