This scoping review aims to explore and map the existing literature that encompasses academic health sciences libraries (AHSLs) and maker learning spaces. This research will identify and provide an in-depth analysis on how AHSLs engage with maker programming, technologies, tools, and services. The literature examined will include both scholarly and gray literature from 2005 to the present day and will seek to highlight maker initiatives implemented specifically in these settings. This aims to inform future implementation and research initiatives by identifying gaps, trends, and opportunities for maker learning in AHSLs.
The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) is a database for trusted information related to rural health. RHIhub offers a wide range of resources for researchers, individuals, community organizations, and other stakeholders committed to improving health outcomes in rural communities. This column highlights how readers can effectively search and use RHIhub's resources and tools to address the unique healthcare needs of rural populations.
The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy provides a lens to examine learners' behavior, attitudes, and beliefs. In this follow up to a recent research study, we examine how students transitioning to clinical education understood how they learned to use information as new clinicians. Literature often describes learners with a deficit narrative, where students are expected to follow a prescribed scholarly path to gain knowledge. Participants described a variety of experiences from throughout their lives as valuable which contradicts this narrative. This highlights that librarians' engagement with health sciences students should center their humanity and agency as we guide them toward effective information practices in service of patient care.
Research in the healthcare environment is required to facilitate improvements in clinical practice and patient care. Health and hospital libraries are in a unique position to support capacity building of health professionals wanting to undertake research. This paper presents a case report from a north Australian health service where Library Services initiated and delivered a Research Support Week. Objectives of the week were to raise the profile of Library Services as a source for support with research, highlight new ways to discover published research and to promote a research community. The program included lightning talks, guest speakers, a research poster competition and a Showcase event. Fifteen sessions were delivered to 150 participants, laying the foundation for future opportunities.
SEARCH is the USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL)'s main discovery platform that provides integrated access to the NAL Digital Collections, Special Collections, PubAg and AGRICOLA. NAL SEARCH is a valuable tool for health science librarians, students, and professionals seeking veterinary science, nutrition, or animal experiment alternatives. This article aims to give users a comprehensive overview of this resource.
Problem-based learning (PBL) is part of an integrated dental school curriculum using patient cases to learn about biomedical sciences. In PBL, students must find and evaluate information sources to support their patient cases. The library supports PBL students through course-related LibGuides, recommended textbooks, and librarian assistance. A feedback survey was conducted with first-year dental students to assess their perceptions of the usefulness of PBL library resources and the benefits of librarian support. Results indicate that students found PBL resources useful and few asked for librarian assistance. Analyzing this data led to changes in library instruction.
As health sciences libraries look to the future, one area of focus should be onboarding new hires. This project investigates the onboarding experiences of newly hired health sciences librarians. This study used a mixed method design to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the attitudes and perceptions of new health sciences librarians toward their most recent onboarding experiences. A survey was designed focusing on onboarding experiences of health sciences librarians and how these experiences have affected their career. Individual interviews were arranged with 14 survey respondents. Libraries need to explore more connections for new hires both inside and outside of the library.
Research and Education Librarians at Rowland Medical Library at the University of Mississippi Medical Center designed an engaging 90-minute instruction session for middle school students participating in a summer enrichment program. Librarians adapted instruction strategies to effectively reach and connect with a younger, nontraditional audience. Through active learning activities, group discussion, and a scavenger hunt activity, students learned about academic health sciences libraries and strengthened information evaluation skills.
This study demonstrates how health sciences librarians can use citation analysis, COUNTER statistics, and interlibrary loan data to quantitatively evaluate journal collections across multiple health sciences programs. Unlike previous studies focusing on single professions, this research analyzed an entire health sciences college collectively. Results showed 90.5-100% of journals used by faculty for publication and citation were available in the library's catalog, validating the collection's value. These findings provide a framework for collection development, resource promotion, and budget justification. The methodology is particularly valuable for librarians managing collections serving multiple programs within health sciences institutions.
In July 2025, Therapeutic Research Center's Healthcare launched a newly designed NatMed Pro database that offers a contemporary and streamlined webpage layout and more expedient load times. The new landing page is visually appealing due to its refreshed tab bar and graphics. This column will present a sample search in the improved search interface as well as explore some of the new and redesigned features which create a more intuitive user experience.
PsycInfo is a foundational database for evidence-based behavioral health literature, which makes it an essential tool for health sciences librarians. This column provides a comprehensive comparison of PsycInfo on Ovid and EBSCO platforms. It offers a foundational overview for new librarians, guiding them through essential functionalities and navigation. The article also helps librarians evaluate potential database acquisitions by highlighting the distinct features and search capabilities of each interface. This comparison aims to equip health sciences librarians with the knowledge to optimize search strategies and inform strategic purchasing decisions.
Examining the strategic selection and utilization of library resources by medical students could enhance library services for this demographic. A narrative case study focused on a medical student who served as a medical library assistant for three years. Analyses were directed by particular questions. Discussions address the effectiveness of library resources in fulfilling medical students' information needs, potential areas for enhancement, and directions for future research. Libraries are essential for addressing the information needs of medical students. This case study demonstrates methods to enhance library services in response to the evolving educational needs of future physicians.
Recent results show that Health Sciences and Medical Librarians have increasingly been asked to support their institutions since the NIH data sharing guidance in the last decade. This study aims to assess health sciences librarians' data skills based on the conceptual framework developed by Federer and how hteya re able to solve any gaps in knowledge or training. In this cross-sectional survey, we are looking to determine if the health science libraries are adjusting to the demands of medical data preservation and sharing support and to determine whether health sciences librarians perceive there to be a need for increased assistance for these emerging responsibilties. This study will also examine what particular areas need support (i.e. data visualization, data preservation, or supporting an institutional respository).
