Recruiting Medical Students into Health Sciences Librarianship: Pursuing the

Recruiting Medical Students into Health Sciences Librarianship: Pursuing the Informationist Concept through a Dual Degree Model

The Need for Informationists • Over 54% of current MLA members are over 50 • Medical librarians are working in an increasingly complex field • In response, we need medical informationists: • Individuals who have biomedical content expertise as well as an understanding of information and library science

The Dual Degree Program • MD/MSLS or MD/MSIS • Complete 2 years toward MD • During third “research” year, complete MSLS or MSIS • (in one or two years) • MS paper must meet Duke requirements for 3rd-year thesis • Return to Duke to complete MD

The Project Goals • Funding received from IMLS ($392,295) • Recruit 4 students from Duke into the dual degree program • 2 to begin Fall 2006 • 2 to begin Fall 2007 • Test the feasibility of this model for increasing the number of medical informationists

The Project Team • At UNC: • Barbara Wildemuth, Professor • Claudia Gollop, Assoc. Professor • Peggy Schaeffer, Project Coordinator • At Duke: • Pat Thibodeau, Director, DUMC Library • Robert James, Assoc. Dir., Public Services, DUMC Library

Project Evaluation • Evaluate the viability of this approach, in terms of: • Student performance • Student satisfaction • Effects on career plans of participants

Timetable

Questions?

Recruiting Medical Students into Health Sciences Librarianship: Pursuing the