Introduction to Health Science Librarianship

Citation

Lindsay, M. (2010), "Introduction to Health Science Librarianship", Library Review, Vol. 59 No. 2, pp. 138-139. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531011023925

To describe this textbook as comprehensive may be an understatement as it has 18 chapters in five sections. Following the introduction/overview, there are chapters on technical services, public services, administration and special topics. The editor acknowledges that while the textbook is intended as an introduction, some topics are more advanced than others. Evidence‐based librarianship and health informatics are appropriately placed further back in the volume.

Although it is an American publication with references to legislation, professional organisations and associations and the US health care system, there is much material for British librarians to learn from. The American use of English was not a barrier to comprehension with only two strange words: “informatist” and “initialism”, in the 490 pages! The typography is excellent with clearly presented tables and useful highlighting of the 22‐page glossary. Each contributor has provided a bibliography as well as relevant web references.

If you need succinct definitions of current practice, comprehensive bibliographic references, teaching material for skills development in health science librarianship, you will find it all here. There are informative scenarios of “A day in the life of… ” various librarians. There may not be many British librarians who attend meetings starting at 7.30 am.

The author of the chapter on Information Literacy Education in Health Science libraries uses the definition of information literacy as revolving around teaching lifelong information skills that can be used in many ways, which is a broader concept than bibliographical instruction. The documents from American professional organisations which are cited provide an interesting insight into how policies are defined. Useful consideration is given to developing an understanding of the concerns of librarians who find it difficult to involve academics and to spearhead changes to the curricula of the schools they serve. There is on the whole a great deal of supporting documentation to assist librarians in developing information literacy programmes and adapting these to specific health sciences disciplines. That does not mean, however, that these efforts are always welcome or without controversy. The author cites a report which encourages that “Maintaining a healthy scepticism about the quality and validity of all information”. Librarians’ criticisms of the concept of information literacy are considered and the alternative model of information fluency is proposed. Learning theories and pedagogies are thoroughly addressed. There is guidance on planning and designing an information literacy programme with examples of questions from an information literacy assignment. The chapter concludes that information literacy is helping library users truly understand the nature of information, helping them become fully fluent participants in the market‐place of ideas.

The authority of the book is confirmed by the impressive careers of its contributors, many of whom are also involved in teaching and editing library journals. This invaluable textbook can be strongly recommended for everyone involved in teaching or managing healthcare librarianship. You can put your library stamp over the sweet‐smiling pictures of people on the cover, but the textual content provides a sound foundation for professional development. There is both practical and theoretical discussion throughout the text and the emphasis on IT is consistently addressed. This textbook is packed with very useful material for everyone working in health science librarianship.