The Health Sciences Libraries Group is holding an in-person CPD event on Ovid Platform & Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). This event will be held on Tuesday 28th October 2025 at the Health Research Board.
This is an LAI CPD credited event and is open to all LAI members. Non-LAI members are welcome to join a waiting list by contacting contacthslg@gmail.com.
Morning session: Introduction to your resources and literature searching on the Ovid Platform, Rani Southern-Darbar, Senior Customer Success Consultant, Wolters Kluwer.
Afternoon session: How to critically appraise a Randomised Controlled Trial using The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, Miriam Williams, Library & Information Service, Tallaght University Hospital
Register here through Eventbrite.
HSLG members can apply for funds to cover the registration fee and/or travel expenses for this event. See more here HSLG Bursaries – Health Sciences Libraries Group
Presented by the American Medical Library Association (MLA) on Wednesday 23rd July, this webinar is designed for early career health sciences librarians.
This webinar will:
- Explore a wide range of research tools, including scholarly databases, eBook platforms, and standards and guidelines resources.
- Consider how to select appropriate resources, the nuances of differing controlled vocabularies, and strategies for sharing these skills with health science researchers.
- Through a combination of interactive lecture, live demonstration, and scenario-based discussions, attendees will learn how to apply their new knowledge when responding to user inquiries. During this webinar, you will receive a comprehensive handout detailing key resources and rationale for use.
Click here for more information
Run over 2 evenings on 5th & 9th June, this online course presented by Julie Glanville & Carol Lefebvre provides a comprehensive guide to peer reviewing search strategies, essential for improving the quality and accuracy of research findings across multiple disciplines.
Participants will gain skills in evaluating and optimising search methodologies, leading to more robust and credible research outcomes.
This course will cover topics and learning objectives such as:
- Understanding the purpose of the peer review process
- The PRESS Checklist
- Identifying common pitfalls and challenges in search strategy structure
- Learning how to check the search terms within search strategies
For more information click here
Kate Kelly: Putting it into Practice: applying the skill set
Kate is Director of Library Services at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).RCSI is currently building a new academic education centre incorporating a new library and has been recruiting for new positions over the last year. Kate has spent most of her library career in health sciences working in the USA and Ireland. She has an MSc in Health Services Research and is a fellow of the Library Association of Ireland (FLAI) and distinguished member of the US Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP).
Abstract
In support of its strategy “Growth and Excellence” RCSI is building a new medical education centre incorporating a new health sciences library. Planning for this building challenged library staff at all levels to consider and reconsider what it is we do, how we do it, and why we do it. What if anything differentiates a health sciences library and health sciences librarians from other libraries? Using RCSI Library as a case study this presentation will share some of the learnings from our benchmarking exercises as prelude to a restructuring and the thinking behind resulting new positions.
Ann Wales: Something Old, Something New: Health Librarian Capabilities for the Knowledge Economy and the Digital Age
Since 2005, Ann has held the national role of Programme Director for Knowledge Management in NHS Education for Scotland, leading national strategic development of knowledge management across health and social care. This has included delivery of the national online Knowledge Network as a national gateway to evidence, information and learning resources for health and social care. Ann also worked with partners to design and operationalise a national service for translating knowledge into action in health and social care, with a strong focus on developing knowledge broker roles to facilitate that process The constant driving force behind Ann’s work is her commitment to translating knowledge into decisions and actions to improve health and care.
Abstract
Drawing upon international research and upon the experience of the Knowledge into Action Strategy for Health and Social Services in Scotland, this presentation will explore the knowledge, skills, behaviours and mindsets required to realise the potential of the health librarian role in the 21st Century. It will highlight the need for librarians to respond to transformation of health and social care delivery; the “digital first” approach to public services, the growth of the knowledge economy, and the financial challenges underlying all these drivers for change. An overarching theme is the need to develop beyond the traditional librarian role in organising information to become knowledge brokers that facilitate the translation of knowledge into practice. Participants will be invited to debate the real-life challenges of evolving professional identity and skills in this changing context.
Jesse Waters: The Skill Set of a Health Science Library Assistant
Jesse is a 2015 graduate of the MLIS at University College Dublin, and also holds an MA in History from Mary Immaculate College. He has a great deal of experience in academic libraries, having volunteered at the library at Limerick School of Art and Design and the Glucksman Library (University of Limerick). He recently worked at the James Joyce Library (University College Dublin) and is currently a part time library-assistant at the Mercer Library (Royal College of Surgeons).
Abstract
The Skill Set of a Health Science Library Assistant` highlights the core skills required from a library assistant, and those which are developed over time while working at the service desk of a health science library. From his own experience, he has identified three categories of skills that a library assistant should possess. First are the skills necessary before one enters the role, such as communication and research skills. Second are the skills which are realised when one becomes comfortable in their individual library, including knowledge of customer needs and library resources. Third are those which develop with experience in ones library, including specific subject knowledge such as health and medicine.
