The Reformation of Librarianshipinto

Information Practice

Michele Klein-Fedyshin, BSN, MSLS, RN, AHIPHealth Sciences Library System

Liaison Librarian-PsychiatryWestern Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

Evolving concepts-the light bulb

Evolving Information Formats

Librarianship Evolving

http://talesfromanopenbook.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/librarianswho-are-they-really

How is Information Practice different?

• What is changing about the work of librarians that is redefining our profession?– New focus on aiding decisions and providing answers:

going beyond running a search, retrieving citations and emailing articles to appraisal, analysis, synthesis and interpretation as librarian/informationist services and products

– Increased specialization and expectations– Greater accountability– New information specifications/standards arising

Definitions and Examples

--Observation points or numerical values, e.g., The PSA is 6.0.

--Data that has meaning, e.g., A normal PSA is < 4.0; 8 is high

--Includes interpretation or analysis, e.g., After a prostatectomy, the PSA should drop.

--Use of knowledge to manage or solve problems, e.g., If PSA continues to rise, the patient needs more testing.

Adapted from C. Bartos with permission

How this translates into roles & functions

• Data• Information• Knowledge• Wisdom

• Observations, implications• Synthesis• Interpretation, analysis• Applying clinical judgment

with knowledge from evidence-based reviews combined with the patient’s values

Definition of Information Practice

• ---the survey and application of information in a comprehensive, yet focused manner for a practical, specific use to affect a positive outcome in a particular situation (which facilitates the delivery of healthcare). Information Practice involves the appraisal, analysis, interpretation and relation of information to a particular situation.

• For the Information Practitioner, retrieval is just the beginning.

Maybe the Information Practitioner is a hybrid

Standard vehicle Hybrid

Google Images1970 Chevy Nova

Changing practice outputs/outcomes

Output/outcome Example

Search methodology section of a systematic review

Formal, reproducible, documented strategy

Evidence Table Tabular evaluation of references for implications

Comparative research: For example on EHR-connectible knowledge-based information

Tabular output comparing product features, usage

Search protocol projects PROMIS projects with step-by-step search protocols, keywords and controlled vocabulary terms.

Clinic-ready synthesis Actionable analysis, tailored to a specific patient or population

Goals for Information Practice (IP)

• Goal 1. To improve health and healthcare on both an individual and population level. The value-added IP components of analysis and synthesis enhance the utility of the IP who becomes an active part of the translational science and the solutions.

• Goal 2. To implement timely interventions for positive outcomes. IP’s may initiate their involvement at an early stage of the decision.

Goals for Information Practice , continued

• Goal 3. To define a Level of Practice that doesn’t focus only on the person (librarian) or place (library), but the products of Information Practice.

• Goal 4. To establish standards of IP which the institution can use to credential/rate their level of “knowleedge readiness”.

• Akin to “most-wired status” (most informed status?)• Or hierarchy levels for trauma centers (Level 1 Knowledge

Center?)

Existing use of “Information Practice” terminology

• Evidence-based Library and Information Practice journal and conference

• Implications for Practice sections in library journal articles

• Evidence-based practice for Information Professionals by Booth and Brice

N.B. However IP does not equal EBP, it uses it.IP involves the concept of a professional practice.

Librarianship as a vocation and not an avocation

Organizations promulgating information standards

PRESS: Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies

Arising Standards for Information Practice

Standards in our future??

ConceptEvidence-based search: • e.g., NNR Number needed to

retrieve

• Span of search: Number of databases needed to access

• Currency: Use of databases current to within 2 months

Evidence

• How many citations are needed to retrieve to give due consideration? (16911130)

• Information should come from 2 or more; database matters (16085190, 19490151)

• Google Scholar has less currency than PubMed data (17884971)

Why are, and aren’t, these people calling us Librarians?

-Despite this title, Ms Johnson goes on to say we are moving to “Information Scientists”.

-In a recent article in the journal Chest entitled, “Backing up your statements: how to perform literature searches to prove your points.”

-The author recommended that “a professional information specialist should be engaged” before claiming ‘the literature shows that’…”

From :This book is Overdue! By Marilyn Johnson, copyright info courtesy of HarperCollins Publisher.

PubMed Search, 3/22/2010Phrase Number of Citations Retrieved

bioinformationist* 2

embedd* librarian* 5

expert search* 23

informatician* 139

information practic* 49

information scientist* 24

information specialist* context* 10

informationist 41

knowledge broker* 32

“knowledge translation” 351

librarian* 2069

librarianship* 260

search specialist 3

Calls for Professional IP• British NHS study suggests that the number of

trained Clinical Librarians be increased from 50 to 800 to answer the need for such a professional

• Davidoff and Florance called for development of a “national program, modeled on the experience of clinical librarianship, to train, credential and pay for the services of information specialists.”

• Knowledge broker/knowledge translation definition (CHSRF): a dynamic and iterative process that includes the synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve health…

Where do we go from here?Credentialing:-Joint degrees? e.g., JD/MLS-Certificate programs?-Domain knowledge

Organizational recognition:-Specialty departments in library organizations, such as Molecular Biology, Clinical Services, Translational Sciences

Continued NLM Informationist Funding-Ten years post Davidoff and Florance, the jobs are beginning to appear -Need more “meta-information” on specialist (e.g., clinical) questions, relationship to care

Continue to emphasize the importance of knowledge standards-Embrace organizations that promote data driven decisions and search methodologies-Use the phrase Information Practice and develop the concept

Vail Pass. Jeff Royston, 11/18/06. interstate guide.com

Acknowledgements:

I would like to acknowledge Margaret Bandy and Roz Dudden, co-editors of the upcoming MLA Guide for editing my chapter and focusing my thoughts.

Read all about it in the forthcoming, MLA Guide

To Managing Health Care Libraries