Surveying the Global Health Efforts of Health Sciences Libraries

1. Surveying the Global Health Efforts of Health Sciences Libraries Emily Vardell, MLS, Carol Jenkins, MLS, Mellanye Lackey, MSI, Karen Crowell, MLIS Health Sciences Library at UNC Chapel Hill OBJECTIVE: Investigate how academic health sciences libraries are evolving and expanding as global health information leaders. To inform planning of HSL’s own global health activities, we conducted and analyzed a survey to gather baseline data. • RESULTS: 44 AAHSL directors (35%) responded. • Libraries increased global health involvement (61%) in correlation with their institutions' global health involvement (77%), even if library budgets did not increase (71%). • Library effortsconcentrated on collection development, curriculum planning, remote access, liaison services, and outreach. • Concerns focused on budget, materials/resources, communication difficulties, and staff time. • Respondents envisionedlibraries' roles changing in areas of: partnerships, purchasing of resources, training, budget, barriers to access, and librarians as liaisons. ‘Increased involvment’ broadly includeds more staff, materials, or time, etc devoted tonew projects. METHODS: The library distributed a survey to the AAHSL library directors via Survey Monkey. Results were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. CONCLUSIONS: In our investigation of health sciences libraries emerging as global health information leaders, we determined that, despite budget and time constraints, libraries are increasing their involvement in global health initiatives. Respondents’ frequent words http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/774206/Global_health • NEXT STEPS: • Explore nontraditional library services • Share methods of securing institutional support • Build capacity in the library for global outreach, including cultural competence, collections, IT, etc. • Provide sustainable global health information services