In this section:

Transformational Space Home

Synopsis

Conclusions

Bibliography

Photos & Illustrations

Transformational Change in Health Sciences Libraries: Space, Collections, Roles.
Synopsis

This is a synopsis of ideas from the Space Planning Literature
(articles by Ludwig, Gray, Nelson, Kronenfeld, Byrd , Educause Future of Libraries and other articles in bibliography )

The driving forces for library change:

• Changes/ improvements in technology
  
• Change in culture    
  
• Change in curriculum      
  
• Group Activities       
  
• Collaborative Learning
  
• Changes in information infrastructure cut the physical tie to the library
  
• Electronic articles  = chief unit of scholarly info –changes in scholarly communication
  
• Changes in publishing model;  from ownership in print to leasing electronic version
  
• Preferred learning environments

Roles librarians should embrace:

Teach Create guides, bibliographies, webpages, newsletter editors Liaisons Grant writing Provide programs to support methods of teaching Improve delivery of info Curriculum development Faculty instruction support Improve info literacy of clinical staff             Open Access Point of  care resources                Electronic patient record                                                  Creator of metadata Contract / licensing law                                 Develop electronic reserves

Support clinical trials Research team member IRB  / IACUC Informationist Archivist Educators Knowledge managers Stewards of campus information Manage digital repositories Data curation / management Informatics Create user-centered info resources Facilitator of intercampus collaboration Ensure continued access to e-resoure E science

As information providers we should embed ourselves within scholarship, teaching, learning, & research.

We should exploit technology to :
find and evaluate info on the web, to improve productivity, control costs, enrich services, to deliver quality content.

Traditional library functions

• Create, store, disseminate, use and preserve knowledge
  
• Systematic organization              
  
• Provide access to trustworthy, authoritative knowledge
  
• Select, create collection, organize it to enable access, preserve it for the future

New functions/ definitions  of Libraries

• Locate information, move it, add value to it
  
• Entity that provides access to information management professionals
  
• Center for knowledge management ( knowledge creation and utilization)
  
• From repositories of printed knowledge to organizational units that provide access to and use of digital
  body of knowledge
  
• From repositories to hub for community with focus on access, organization and use of knowledge
  
• Acquire, instruct, organize, provide access to traditional resources plus genomic databases, image repositories, multimedia and digital materials ie lectures.
  

Library Trends

Group space with computers Single service point / desk* Decreased stack space Flexible space* Less sq footage Less copy machines         Compact shelving* Automated retrieval systems Remote storage Archives for historical or nonclinical Resources Off site depositories Low cost repositories      Liaison programs* Improved tech infrastructure Wired and wireless Simulation  labs Digital document delivery Broader Bandwidth More instruction Increased collaboration Bioinformatics Consumer health Informatics Digitized course materials Less print more digitalin-library to out of Library  services

Web-based reference New generation websites (user  centric) New digital KBI formats (synthesized info ie Uptodate) Internet café Leverage buying power Cooperative arrangements Less dept. holdings More institutional  holdings Repositories of  institutional       Datasets Community partnerships Learning / info commons Increased virtual reference Electronic patient record Distance learning classrooms More multifunctional space More laptops Less printers More smart classrooms Heart of scholarly communication Partner with biomedical informatics Partner with public libraries Partner with book stores Partner with univ. press Partner with faculty & students in scholarship and teaching Ubiquitous internet/wireless

* repeated theme

Miscellaneous

Take the cue from NLM  goals:

• organize health info
  
• provide access to it
  
• consumer health info
  
• molecular biology resources
  

Emphasize librarians as information experts

Emphasize librarians as technology experts

Staff space should be collaborative to encourage team activities- meeting rooms.

Users physically enter library not for access to info  - now for value added information services and as a place to collaborate and study.
Identify your individual library trends, strong points of your facility and resources.

Allow historical collections to add atmosphere.

Be more reflective of parent institution’s mission and needs. Participate in clinical care. Demonstrate Return On Investment (ROI).

Support evidence-based health practices.

Browsing will become an online activity esp. as current awareness products get sophisticated.

Library will continue as iconic symbol, welcoming interface, inviting place, intellectual center.

As content, medium & applications merge within technology- libraries must collaborate as the essential model of operation

Library has value for providing cafes, learning commons, and group study areas BUT institutions will not justify space for socialization. Still have to promote value as use and management of information resources.

Technology extends the reach of the library.  It will replace people in the delivery of basic library services.

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