Aoife Lawton: Making Our Skills Visible Through Research

Aoife, MLIS, ALAI works as a systems librarian for the Health Service Executive. Based in Dr. Steevens’ Hospital, she is responsible for managing Lenus the Irish Health Repository, electronic resource management and is involved in system reform projects. Aoife is the author of “The Invisible Librarian” a book published in 2015 to raise the profile, visibility and impact of the work that librarians do. She is the IPC chair for ICML/EAHIL/HSLG 2017 conference. Her interests include: evidence based librarianship, emerging technologies, open access and continuing professional development. Twitter: aalawton

Abstract

Research, Analysis and Interpretation is one of the seven competency areas outlined by the Medical Library Association as conducive to professional success. The Standards for Irish Healthcare Library & Information Services (2004) include several references to the importance of research skills for librarians under several criteria: User Education, Systematic Review skills, Needs Assessment and Library & Information Service Staff Training. Paying attention to the external environment is equally important for health science librarians and information professionals. One of the three strategic recommendations that emerged from the SHeLLI report included “Staff and service development”. From this, a specific recommendation was “Health librarians should identify clinical research opportunities in all sectors, and offer their information and knowledge skills to the research team”.

One of the main benefits of carrying out research is that it increases the visibility of the skills of a librarian to a broad audience. This is achieved by working with health care professionals, collaborating on research projects and publishing. This presentation will focus on the experience of one health science librarian’s writing and publishing journey with the intention of inspiring others to get writing and get publishing.