Characteristics and Skills for Medical Librarians as the Information Experts in Accidents and Disasters
Journal of Medical Library and Information Science,
Vol. 5 No. 5 (2024),
8 January 2024
,
Page 1-19
https://doi.org/10.22037/jmlis.v5i.44811
Abstract
Introduction: The accident and disaster team's access to reliable and up-to-date information can mean faster crisis management, requiring specialist forces in this field. Therefore, this research aims to determine the characteristics and skills medical librarians need to be disaster and disaster information experts.
Methods: The current research is descriptive and has been conducted using a narrative review method. In this study, 46 articles were found based on searches conducted in databases and websites of journals, which met the researchers’ criteria for inclusion in the study. In the next step, to achieve the main goal of the research, the content of these articles was examined and analyzed in-depth, and as a result, the characteristics and skills needed by librarians of accidents and disasters were extracted.
Results: The results showed that the characteristics and skills needed in the order of abundance in the sources include the provision of information services, the use of information technology tools, collection managers, training in disaster response activities, institutional supporters, internal planners, government partners, mental health support, safe shelter, community resilience, familiarity with crisis management topics, and meeting needs.
Conclusion: The results of the source review showed that librarians can play an influential role in the field of accidents and disasters. For this purpose, they must have the required characteristics and skills acquired through workshops or training courses, which add lesson units to educational topics.
- Accidents and disasters information specialist
- Accidents and disasters librarian
- Accidents
- Disasters
- Skill
- Medical librarian
- Crisis management
How to Cite
References
1. Mohammad Shafiei MR, Mohammad Shafiei AH. Crisis and its management solutions. The second international research conference in science and technology [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2023 Apr 24]. Available from: https://civilica.com/doc/505031. [In Persian].
2. Rezaei SF, Keramat MA. What is crisis management and how is it implemented? Cris Emerg Manag. [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2023 Feb 19]; 10(35):155-139. Available from: https://cmj.ihu.ac.ir/article_204660.html. [In Persian].
3. Ashrafi-Rizi H, Kazempour Z, Shahrzadi L. Factors related to the production and sharing of misinformation in the Coronavirus crisis: A commentary. Heal Inf Manag. 2020;17(1):36-38. doi: 10.22122/him.v17i1.4095. [In Persian].
4. Momoh EO, Folorunso AL. The evolving roles of libraries and librarians in the 21st century. Libr Philos Pract [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Mar 6]: 2867. Available from: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/2867
5. Somvir R. Role of librarian in 21st century. In proceeding of 55th ILA National Conference on Library & Information Science in the Digital Era[Internet]. 2010 [cited 2022 Jun 12]; 80-81. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327859508
6. Ashrafi Rizi H, Hodhodinijad N, Shahrazadi L, Soleimani MR. The change and evolution of the services of librarians and medical informants in the health system. 1st ed. 2018. Sepehr Danesh; 2018. [In Persian].
7. YousufAli M, Gatiti P. The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic: Reflections on the roles of librarians and information professionals. Health Info Libr J. 2020;37(2):158-1562. doi: 10.1111/hir.12307
8. Medical library association disaster information 2024 [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.mlanet.org/page/disaster-information-specialization
9. Ghafari S, Sadeghin A, Khemtinjad H. Investigating the situation of crisis management in public libraries of Kashan city. Cris Manag Q [Internet]. 2020[cited 2021 Jan 28]; 3:75-99. Available from: https://cmj.ihu.ac.ir/article_206048_b2276ad6cc8f23e5b252bd17b6a7229f.pdf. [In Persian].
10. Soleymani MR, Esmaeilzadeh M, Taghipour F, Ashrafi-Rizi H. COVID-19 information seeking needs and behaviour among citizens in Isfahan, Iran: A qualitative study. Health Info Libr J. 2023;40(4):359-370. doi: 10.1111/hir.12396
11. Malekolkalami M, Moghadami M, Mantegh H. The evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian medical and non-medical librarians towards COVID-19. Sci Tech Inf Manag. 2021;7(1):199-224. doi: 10.22091/STIM.2020.6248.1479. [In Persian].
12. Kazempour Z, Soleymani MR, Najafi NSS, Ashrafi-Rizi H. Identifying the roles of medical librarians in COVID-19 crisis in Iran. J Educ Health Promot. 2021;10:226. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1352_20
13. Chisita CT, Ngulube P. A framework for librarians to inform the citizenry during disasters: Reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic. Jàmbá-Journal Disaster Risk Stud. 2022;14(1):1197. doi: 10.4102/jamba.v14i1.1197
14. Donahue AE, Featherstone RM. New roles for hospital librarians: a benchmarking survey of disaster management activities. J Med Libr Assoc. 2013;101(4):315-318. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.101.4.014
15. Featherstone RM, Lyon BJ, Ruffin AB. Library roles in disaster response: An oral history project by the National Library of Medicine. J Med Libr Assoc. 2008;96(4):343-450. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.96.4.009
16. Featherstone R. The disaster information specialist: an emerging role for health librarians. J Libr Adm. 2012;52(8):731-753. doi: 10.1080/01930826.2012.746875
17. Mohamadesmaeil S, Nasehi Oskouei M. Libraries and natural disasters (a case study of medical university libraries affiliated to ministry of health and medical education of Iran, Tehran). Health Inf Manage [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2021 Jan 28]; 11(6):711. Available from: https://sid.ir/paper/122021/en. [In Persian].
18. Ashrafi-Rizi H, Kazempour Z. The challenges of information services related to the COVID-19 crisis. J Mil Med. 2020;22(2):207-209. doi: 10.30491/JMM.22.2.207. [In Persian].
19. Taheri A, Ashrafi-Rizi H, Saeedizadeh M. Challenges and actions of public libraries for reopening and providing services under COVID-19 crisis: An analysis of international guidelines and actions. Heal Inf Manag. 2020;17(3):140-146. doi: 10.22122/him.v17i3.4134. [In Persian].
20. Ghasemi R, Ghaffari S. Investigating the Readiness of University Libraries of Isfahan for Encountering the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. Libr Inf Sci Res. 2022;12(2):235-354. doi: 10.22067/infosci.2022.70584.1039. [In Persian].
21. Winston MD, Quinn S. Library leadership in times of crisis and change. New Libr World. 2005;106(9/10):395-415. doi: 10.1108/03074800510623083
22. Braquet D. Library experiences of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans flood survivors. Libr Inf Sci Res E-Journal. 2010;20(1):1-23. doi:10.32655/LIBRES.2010.1.1
23. Zach L. What do I do in an emergency? The role of public libraries in providing information during times of crisis. Sci Technol Libr. 2011;30(4):404-413. doi: 10.1080/0194262X.2011.626341
24. Madge O. Evidence based library and information practice. Stud Bibl şi Ştiinţa Informării. [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2023 Apr 24]; 15:107-112. Available from: https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=133450
25. Malizia M, Vargas K, Hamilton R, Littrell D, Olney C. Connecting public libraries with community emergency responders. Public Libr [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2024 Jan 28]. Available from: https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/emergency_responders/
26. Grace D, Sen B. Community resilience and the role of the public library. Libr Trends. 2013;61(3):513-541. doi: 10.1353/lib.2013.0008
27. Love CB, Arnesen SJ, Phillips SJ, Windom RE. National library of medicine disaster information management research center: Achieving the vision, 2010-2013. Inf Serv Use. 2014;34(1-2):149-170. doi: 10.3233/ISU-140731
28. Veil SR, Bishop BW. Opportunities and challenges for public libraries to enhance community resilience. Risk Anal. 2014;34(4):721-734. doi: 10.1111/risa.12130
29. Flaherty MG. Here, there and everywhere. Disasters public Libr [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2023 Apr 24]. Available from: https://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/1375/1/103-flaherty-en.pdf
30. Meeks R. Weathering the storm: A systematized review of public library disaster literature public deposited [dissertation on the Internet]. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina; 2017 [cited 2020 Nov 22]. Available from: https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/masters_papers/wm117s17h
31. Young E. The role of public libraries in disasters. New Visions Public Aff [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2021 Nov 19]; 10:31-38. Available from: https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.udel.edu/dist/4/10696/files/2018/12/NVPA-Volume-10-27fekmi-16algdk.pdf#page=37
32. Lewis DE. Emergency preparedness in the legal librarian community in the United States: current culture and the need to expand collaboration. Legal Ref Serv Q. 2018;37(3-4):204-235. doi: 10.1080/0270319X.2018.1574164
33. Ilo PI, Ngwuchukwu M, Michael-Onuoha HC, Segun-Adeniran C. Challenges of disaster training: implication for federal and state university libraries in Nigeria. Disaster Prev Manag. 2019;28(3):332-342. doi: 10.1108/DPM-05-2018-0175
34. Yu F, Mani N. How American academic medical/health sciences libraries responded to the COVID-19 health crisis: An observational study. Data Inf Manag. 2020 Sep;4(3):200-208. doi: 10.2478/dim-2020-0013
35. Kosciejew M. The coronavirus pandemic, libraries and information: A thematic analysis of initial international responses to COVID-19. Glob Knowl Mem Commun. 2021;70(4/5):304-324. doi: 10.1108/GKMC-04-2020-0041
36. Cox A, Brewster L. Library support for student mental health and well-being in the UK: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Acad Librariansh. 2020;46(6):102256. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102256
37. Mardis MA, Jones FR, Pickett SM, Gomez D, Tenney CS, Leonarczyk Z, et al. Librarians as natural disaster stress response facilitators: Building evidence for trauma-informed library education and practice. Contin Educ [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2021 Feb 19]. Available from: https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/items/116447
38. Patin B. What is essential? Understanding community resilience and public libraries in the United States during disasters. Proc Assoc Inf Sci Technol. 2020;57(1):e269. doi: 10.1002/pra2.269
39. Okike BI. Information dissemination in an era of a pandemic (COVID-19): Librarians’ role. Libr Hi Tech News. 2020 Jun;37(9):1-4. doi: 10.1108/LHTN-04-2020-0040
40. Walsh B, Rana H. Continuity of academic library services during the pandemic the University of Toronto libraries’ response. J Sch Publ. 2020;51(4):237-245. doi: 10.3138/jsp.51.4.04
41. Tsekea S, Chigwada JP. COVID-19: strategies for positioning the university library in support of e-learning. Digit Libr Perspect. 2021;37(1):54-64. doi: 10.1108/DLP-06-2020-0058
42. Pokorná L, Indrák M, Grman M, Stepanovsky F, Smetánková M. Silver lining of the COVID-19 crisis for digital libraries in terms of remote access. Digit Libr Perspect. 2020;36(4):389-401. doi: 10.1108/DLP-05-2020-0026
43. Wang T, Lund B. Announcement information provided by United States’ public libraries during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Public Libr Q. 2020;39(4):283-294. doi: 10.1080/01616846.2020.1764325
44. Asif M, Singh K. Trends, opportunities and scope of libraries during Covid-19 pandemic. IP Indian J Libr Sci Inf Technol. 2020;5(1):24-27. doi: 10.18231/j.ijlsit.2020.005
45. Bangani S. The fake news wave: Academic libraries' battle against misinformation during COVID-19. J Acad Librariansh. 2021;47(5):102390. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102390.
46. Olubiyo PO, Ogunniyi SO. An assessment of library and information science (LIS) professional skills among librarians in Bab Fafunwa Library, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 Feb 17]. Available from: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/6203
47. Shastri DK, Chudasma P. The perception of ICT skills and challenges of usage of technologies among the library professionals of the Gujarat State during the COVID-19: A comprehensive study. Qual Quant. 2022;56(3):1093-1120. doi: 10.1007/s11135-021-01167-x
48. Aliasghari N. Role of librarians and medical information experts in response to Covid-19 in Iran. Depiction Heal. 2021;11(4):300-304. doi: 10.34172/doh.2020.38. [In Persian].
49. Haugh D. Communicating with medical library users during COVID-19. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021;109(1):107-111. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2021.1003
50. Srirahayu DP, Harisanty D, Mannan EF, Anna NEV, Anugrah EP, Nurpratama MRJLP. Information institution services in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Libr Philos Pract [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Apr 19]: 6736. Available from: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/6736/
51. Oyelude AA, Ebijuwa AS, Ahmad HS, Abba MA, Nongo CJ. Perception of Librarians on COVID-19 Information and Sensitization: Challenges and Change Agenda. Int J Librariansh. 2022;7(1):79-98. doi: 10.23974/ijol.2022.vol7.1.233
52. Kang Q, Song Z, Lu J, Shi T, Yang J. COVID-19 impact on the Chinese top academic libraries: Libraries' response to space, collection and services. J Acad Librariansh. 2022;48(4):102525. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102525
53. Reed KN, Kester B, Kaufmann KF, Homol L, Crampsie C. Crisis Librarianship: An Examination of Online Librarianship Roles in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Acad Librariansh. 2022;48(4):102530. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102530
54. Vakili MA, Paranam Z, Talebi Gorgani R, Kolbadinejad K, Amirkhanlou M, Mohammadi M. Information seeking behavior of health professionals encountering COVID-19 crisis and analyzing the content of messages sent on social media. Informology [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 6]; 1(1):75-84. Available from: http://eprints.rclis.org/43588/
55. Chisita CT, Chiparausha B, Tsabetse V, Olugbara CT, Letseka M. Remaking academic library services in Zimbabwe in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. J Acad Librariansh. 2022;48(3):102521. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102521
56. Pereira S. Skill sets essential for librarians in the post-pandemic scenario: A study on librarians in the higher education institutes in the State of Goa, India. Libr Philos Pract [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Jul 19]; 6678. Available from: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/6678/
57. Charbonneau DH, Vardell E. Health sciences librarian research and instruction services in pandemic information environments. J Acad Librariansh. 2022;48(4):102553. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102553
- Abstract Viewed: 318 times
- e53.PDF Downloaded: 243 times
