Full Description
Virtual services have been part of health sciences libraries for a long time in various forms, including the provision of reference and research services via email or chat, availability of online instruction, access to electronic materials, and the curation of virtual research guides. But when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many libraries to close their doors and pivot to virtual services almost overnight. Moving all services remote, even for just a short time, did highlight what worked well and what did not. The situation increased visibility of these services and made patrons more aware of what was available, perhaps making them more likely to expect and use those services in the future. In some ways, the pandemic showed us ways in which virtual services could even be better than in person services for providing prompt patron services. The situation increased visibility of existing services, making users more aware of what was available, and revealed gaps and needed improvements in virtual services.
In this book copublished by the Medical Library Association, librarians from academic to hospital health sciences libraries, from rural to urban areas, and across a range of service specialties provide blueprints and best practices for building and maintaining sustainable virtual services in health sciences libraries. Each chapter in this volume addresses aspects of providing virtual services in information and access services, reference and instruction, collections, and clinical services written by contributors who have been involved in this work in their own libraries.
Whether you are just beginning an implementation, assessing and refining current offerings, or strategizing for sustainability and looking to the future, this book will provide practical advice, tools, and considerations for maximizing user engagement and satisfaction with virtual library services and resources.
Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
Part 1: Information Services, Engagement, and Access
Chapter 1: Community Engagement in the Virtual Library
Julie Evener and Matthew Chase (University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences)
Chapter 2: Countway Library: Building a Brand and Creating Community Through Strategic Communication
Meredith Solomon, Yasmina Kamal, Stephanie Worrell Rubens, Robin Horst (Harvard Medical School)
Chapter 3:Research and Information Services: Empowering and Supporting Staff in Virtual and Hybrid Environments
Amanda Scull (Dartmouth College)
Chapter 4: Digital Access to Educational Materials: Publishing Models and Open Educational Resources for Medical and Professional Students
Katie Harding (McMaster University) and Amanda Scull (Dartmouth College)
Part 2: Research, Instruction, and Clinical Support
Chapter 5: Developing and Sustaining a Virtual Reference Service with a Small Library Team
Charlotte Beyer, KatieRose McEneely, Claressa Slaughter, Chelsea Eidbo (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science)
Chapter 6: Adapting Instruction and Outreach at a Large Academic Health Sciences Library and Archive
Andy Hickner, Nicole Milano, Vanessa Puig, Judy Stribling, Drew Wright (Weil Cornell Medicine)
Chapter 7: Automating the Hospital Library: A Rural Odyssey
Virginia Trow (Hunter-Rice Health Sciences Library)
Chapter 8: Connect, Guide, Motivate: A Model for Conducting Research Consultations Online
Rosie Hanneke (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Chapter 9: Meeting the Needs of Online Students Through Creative Reimagining and Collaboration with Instructors
Jennifer Monnin and Beth Nardella (West Virginia University)
Chapter 10: Scaffolded Virtual Systematic Review Workshop Series: Taking Evidence Synthesis to the Next Level
Alix Hayden (University of Calgary) and Zahra Premji (University of Victoria)
About the Editor and Contributors
