2026-10-14
Nicole Askin, Tyler Ostapyk, Carla Epp
We previously found that automated indexing in PubMed and Medline increased the risk of inappropriately excluding human studies when using the human studies filter from the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (HSSS). Following the National Library of Medicine’s transition from the Medical Text Indexer-Auto (MTIA) to the Medical Text Indexer-Next Generation (MTIX) in 2024, we wanted to assess whether that was still the case. Using the same approach as our previous study, we reviewed a set of MTIX-indexed records that were excluded by the HSSS. Only 1.1% turned out to be human studies that were inappropriately excluded – a major improvement over not only MTIA but also human indexers in our previous comparison. However, problems remain with automated indexing and search filters . This commentary outlines our findings and our ongoing concerns.
2026-10-14
Terri Gotschall, Elizabeth Irish, Emily Hannum, Kryslynn Collazo, Alyssa Snyder, Jacquelyn Simington
Background : For medical students and residents writing and publishing a case report is a common entry point into scholarly publishing. However, finding a journal that accepts case reports can be challenging. This project updates the 2023 list of journals that accept case reports. Shared on the Open Science Framework (OSF), the original list is a highly used, openly available list of English-language, MEDLINE-indexed journals that publish case reports, providing librarians and authors with a vetted, current open resource for discovering journals. Case Presentation : A list of 2,199 journals was extracted from PubMed using the same method from 2023. The methodology was updated to exclude journals that rarely publish case reports (n=721) resulting in 1,478 journals to review for inclusion on the updated list. The team excluded 290 titles due to ceased publication (n=1), submission restrictions (n=1), non-English publication (n=13), lack of MEDLINE indexing (n=4), and not publishing case reports (n=271). The final list includes 1,188 journals. This is an additional 160 journals over the 2023 list. Nearly half of eligible journals (49%) offered free-to-author publishing options, either through traditional publishing models, open access that did not charge article processing fees, or through hybrid publishing models. Conclusion : The Journals that Accept Case Reports list is an open resource available on the Open Science Framework and serves as a tool to support librarians and authors in identifying appropriate journals for publishing a case report.
2026-10-14
Rachel Whitney, Hilary Jasmin, Christopher Giuliano, Audrey Kostrzewa, Melissa Hunter, Christopher Wisniewski, Emily F. Gorman
Objective : To analyze practicing pharmacists' use of drug information (DI) resources in the United States. Methods : An electronic survey was distributed to practicing US pharmacists through professional organization email lists and social media. The survey questionnaire asked respondents which subscription-based DI resources are provided through their employer, whether they personally pay for additional resources, how often they use subscription-based resources, and other related questions. Results : The survey received 430 responses, 387 of which were able to be fully analyzed. The resources that respondents most frequently had access to through their employer were UpToDate (77.0%), Lexicomp (74.9%), and Micromedex (62.3%). Many respondents (40.8%) paid for subscriptions with personal funds, and 28.9% reported never experiencing access issues due to payment barriers. Respondents in community settings were more likely to have paid for resources with personal funds (57.1%, p Conclusions : US pharmacists experience a varied level of access to DI resources through their employer. Pharmacy educators should focus their instruction on resources that are the most accessible to practicing pharmacists. Many, especially community pharmacists, pay out of pocket for desired resources, presenting an opportunity to advocate for increased resources.
2026-10-14
Nell Aronoff, Laurel Mueller
Background : We explored which point of care (POC) resources medical residents at the University at Buffalo use in clinical settings. We specifically sought to gather feedback from residents who help train medical students to see how they discover, use, and promote resources to support patient care. Case Presentation : We developed an eight question Qualtrics survey. Residency program coordinators emailed the survey to approximately 445 residents in the following programs: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Neurology, Child Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Vascular Surgery. The programs we targeted all correspond to required clerkship rotations. The survey was open for two weeks in June 2025. Thirty-nine residents (8.8%) completed our survey. Thirty-five, or nearly 90% of respondents, reported that they frequently use UpToDate, followed by twenty-three (59.0%) that use OpenEvidence, and seventeen that use MDCalc (43.6%). The residents we surveyed were inclined to recommend similar resources to medical students. They most often hear about new resources from other residents and attendings, via announcements on social media or podcasts, or by attending grand rounds and conferences. Conclusions : Our results highlight the continued popularity of UpToDate among medical trainees but also suggest that residents frequently use OpenEvidence in clinical settings. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of artificial intelligence tools on patient care and learning outcomes.
2026-10-14
Michelle Yee, Nicole Contaxis
Background : Proper research data management requires complying with data policies that ensure the ethical, effective, and efficient collection, storage, and sharing of research data. Medical librarians have made increasing inroads to leading research data management instruction and institutional efforts to comply with federal policies like the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. However, there has been less discussion about how medical librarians can support researcher compliance with institutional data policies. After observing patterns in requests for guidance, two data services librarians developed decision-making tools to help researchers identify appropriate local resources for their data sharing and re-use needs. Case Presentation : The paper describes four projects that were developed with a similar methodology for the purpose of guiding patrons through institutional policies and processes: (1) a decision tree for determining when a data transfer or use agreement is required; (2) a matching tool that identifies appropriate data transfer platforms for specific data characteristics or scenarios; (3) a decision tree for determining whether a researcher needs to seek out Institutional Review Board (IRB) review for a project that uses secondary data analysis; and (4) a flowchart detailing data de-identification processes and institutional tools available for specific data formats. The creation of each resource entailed information gathering from local experts as well as review of internal policies to produce action-oriented guidance to solve common researcher problems. Conclusions : These efforts demonstrate how librarians can utilize their skills and develop cross-departmental collaborations to help patrons navigate an increasingly complicated data ecosystem, particularly where that ecosystem is informed both by external policies (e.g., policies for de-identification) and internal tools (e.g., data transfer tools). The decision trees have helped researchers make choices about their own data management approaches so that they comply with external and internal policies. These documents also enable stakeholders to identify gaps in institutional policies and resources. The development of these resources has had the additional benefit of strengthening partnerships and positioning librarians as collaborators for policy decisions involving research data.
2026-10-14
Julie Evener, Melinda H. Berg
Background : As digital audiobooks gain popularity among the general public, academic health sciences libraries have the opportunity to provide access to supplemental nonfiction titles in this format which while often found in public libraries has not been traditionally offered in this setting. Case Presentation : An academic health sciences library serving students and faculty in the colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and public health piloted a collection of nonfiction health sciences audiobooks through OverDrive’s Libby app. We launched an initial collection of over 500 titles using the cost per circ (CPC) pricing model, including a focus on four content areas: popular nonfiction, first person experiences, history of healthcare, and study helps. Over the first year of the project, we saw 123 total checkouts of 64 titles across 74 unique users, spending $351.84 US on CPC checkouts. Conclusions : The OverDrive title library includes sufficient offerings for academic health sciences libraries to create targeted nonfiction audiobook collections. Challenges of which other libraries should be aware include planning budgets around adding funds each year and determining local workflows to keep the collection updated. Though usage was low in the first year, it was consistent and varied, making the project beneficial and sustainable.
2026-10-14
Sergio Corrales-Guerrero, Xu Zhang, Thipkanok Wongphothiphan, Jinyu Xu, Yungui Huang
Objective : To assess researchers’ understanding, readiness, and perceived challenges related to the 2023 NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy and identify institutional support needs to facilitate compliance. Methods : A mixed-method study was conducted using a 15-item survey distributed to 155 researchers at an academic medical center, with 55 responses (35% response rate). The survey evaluated familiarity with the DMS policy, confidence in performing data management and sharing tasks, perceived burden, and desired institutional support. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and open-ended responses underwent inductive thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results : Most respondents (67%) understood the DMS policy, yet fewer (47%) felt comfortable developing a DMS Plan. Only 29% had used DMPTool.org, while 87% requested tailored templates. Confidence in identifying appropriate repositories (40%) and budgeting for DMS activities (38%) was limited, with 68% perceiving plan execution as burdensome. Qualitative findings revealed two major themes: (1) Operational and Infrastructure Needs; emphasizing the need for centralized consultation, discipline-specific templates, equitable access to expertise, and budget guidance; and (2) Implementation Challenges and Perceived Burden; including perceptions of administrative overload, uncertainty in managing sensitive data, and calls for clearer institutional communication and cultural reframing of data sharing as a value-added activity. Conclusions : While researchers endorse the principles of the NIH DMS policy, many lack the practical resources and institutional support necessary for effective compliance. Developing centralized infrastructure, standardized guidance, and targeted training may reduce burdens, promote equity, and strengthen a culture of responsible data stewardship. While researchers endorse the principles of the NIH DMS policy, many lack the practical resources and institutional support necessary for effective compliance. Developing centralized infrastructure, standardized guidance, and targeted training may reduce burdens, promote equity, and strengthen a culture of responsible data stewardship.
2026-10-14
Yuqi He, Abrielle Spaletta
Objective : This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research publications utilizing the All of Us Research Program dataset to characterize publication trends, collaboration networks, key research topics, and compliance with All of Us publication and presentation policies through December 2024. Methods : A total of 561 publication titles were collected from the All of Us Publications Directory. Titles were then searched across Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and PubMed, with WoS (475 publications identified) selected as the primary source for analysis. Productivity metrics, including publication growth, journal distribution, author productivity, and word frequency, were analyzed using Biblioshiny. Co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence networks were visualized in VOSviewer to reveal collaboration structures and emerging research themes. Results : Among the 475 analyzed publications, 2,803 authors were identified across 211 journals. The annual number of All of Us publications increased by 82.45% from 2015 to 2024. Major research themes included epidemiology, chronic conditions, genomics, and health disparities, with dermatology emerging as a particularly active area. Network analysis revealed strong intra-institutional ties and some cross-institutional collaborations, primarily among R1 universities. Conclusions : This bibliometric study demonstrates a rapid rise in scholarly activity leveraging the All of Us dataset, characterized by concentrated author and institutional engagement. These findings highlight both the growing impact of the All of Us dataset and opportunities to foster broader collaborations and diversify participation across the research community.
2026-10-14
Fei Yu
Background : This case report demonstrates how a health sciences librarian designed and delivered a data-driven research analytics service to support a multi-institutional pre-award proposal. Case Presentation : The librarian was invited to join a multi-institutional research team. After defining the project scope, the librarian developed and executed a structured search strategy in a key research database for collaborative research publications across the participating institutions. After two reviewers independently screened search results for relevance, the librarian applied validated measures and metrics and conducted quantitative data analysis and visualization with bibliographic metadata collected from the included research publications. The findings offered quantitative evidence that illustrates the dynamics and patterns in research productivity, collaboration networks, and topic distribution within the collaborative research effort. This librarian’s work contributes to a timely delivery of actionable insights, directly informing the research team’s proposal strategy and preparation. Conclusion : This case presents a replicable framework for embedding research analytics services within library practice to support research performance evaluation. Leveraging librarians’ expertise in literature search, research databases, bibliometrics, and data-driven workflows, librarians demonstrate their growing prominence as essential partners in research proposal development and research analytics.
2026-10-14
Todd Lane
Appendix A was not included with the originally published manuscript. The appendix has since been added and is now available with the article.
2026-10-14
Mercedes Byrd, James Martin, Alexis Karas
Medical librarians have long observed that medical students who struggle with reading complex textbooks also demonstrate weak information literacy skills. For decades, these have been treated as separate problems requiring separate solutions—offering reading workshops and database training sessions with limited lasting impact. This commentary proposes a reconceptualization: textbook literacy and information literacy are not sequential competencies but rather parallel manifestations of the same underlying cognitive architecture. Drawing on research in medical education, cognitive psychology, and educational neuroscience, this commentary argues that both literacies depend on three interconnected cognitive capacities: metacognitive self-regulation, working memory management, and epistemic sophistication. Understanding this shared foundation has profound implications for how health sciences librarians design interventions, plan instruction, and position themselves as essential contributors to medical education. This commentary presents a framework and outlines practical implications for library instruction, assessment, and collaboration with medical educators.
2026-10-14
Alexander J. Carroll, AHIP, Jill Boruff, Michelle Kraft
In the fall of 2023, the Journal of the Medical Library Association ( JMLA ) introduced its policy on generative artificial intelligence (AI) submissions, predicting that these tools would become embedded within the workflows of clinicians, educators, researchers, and students. Those predictions dramatically underestimated AI's impact. On the three-year anniversary of that editorial, we revisit the issue in light of AI's unprecedentedly rapid adoption across knowledge work. We examine the educational challenges AI poses, arguing that excessive cognitive offloading threatens the deep thinking on which learning depends. We then consider the challenges AI creates for researchers, from hallucinated citations to fabricated diseases. We suggest that health sciences librarians, who offer expertise in approaching information systems with discernment, are well suited to be leaders in this space. To help prospective JMLA authors weigh whether and when to use AI, we propose the Compliance, Verifiability, and Disclosure (CVD) Framework. Throughout, we reaffirm our conviction that education and research must remain human-centered endeavors.
2026-10-14
Helen Fulbright, Connor Evans
Objective : To understand and compare the impact of 11 filters to remove records on animals or nonhumans in Ovid Embase, which are routinely used despite there being no performance data for them. To understand the indexing of relevant subject headings in Embase. Methods : To assess filter performance, we screened and categorized 3,000 records as ‘should be removed’ or ‘should be retained’ and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for each filter. We also reported on the number of records with human participants or data that were incorrectly removed by each filter. Results : Method 11 was the most sensitive, correctly retaining 90.6% records, whereas method 3 had the highest specificity, correctly removing 71.5% records. Of the records incorrectly removed by each filter, method 11 removed the fewest records with human participants or data at 10.9%, whereas method 3 removed the most at 14.3%. Filters that did not remove records indexed with ‘nonhuman/’ had higher sensitivity. Filter performance could vary by subject, publication type and language due to differences in indexing. Conclusion : In choosing a search filter, information specialists and review teams should discuss whether animals or nonhumans could feature in relevant studies.
2026-07-14
Juliana Magro
Background : Librarians providing feedback on Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) assignments face time constraints. This case report describes implementing a semi-automated rubric — defined here as a tool that automatically calculates scores from grader-selected ratings while narrative feedback is still written by the instructor — to reduce grading time for an EBM capstone assignment for first-year medical students. Case Presentation : Two cohorts of approximately 100 students completed the same EBM assignment. The 2023 cohort received manual feedback, while the 2024 cohort received feedback using the semi-automated rubric. Grading time was logged for both cohorts. The rubric, adapted from a template, automatically calculates scores based on selected criteria, streamlining the feedback process. Conclusions : The semi-automated rubric reduced grading time by 30%, from an average of seven minutes per assignment to five minutes. This simple, adaptable intervention can help reduce educator workload, improve feedback timeliness, and enhance assessment consistency. While limited by its single-grader and single institution design, this case report offers practical insights for educators seeking to improve feedback efficiency in EBM and other disciplines.
2026-07-14
Shannon D. Jones
This profile offers a portrait of Heather Nadean Holmes, MLIS, AHIP, 2025-2026 Medical Library Association (MLA) President, as a leader defined by authenticity, courage, and deep commitment to the profession. Holmes, known for her candor and dedication to the profession, brings a career rooted in service, gained from her work in hospital, academic, and association environments, to the presidency. Her professional journey reflects a sustained commitment to evidence-based practice, research, and elevating librarians as essential partners in health care, education, and discovery. Holmes is widely recognized for her work as a clinical medical librarian and her national leadership in developing the MLA Research Agenda. Colleagues describe her as a truth-teller who leads with integrity, sets clear boundaries, and consistently uses her platform to support others, especially early- and mid-career professionals. Her presidency focuses on inclusivity, transparency, and member engagement during a significant transition for both the Association and the profession. Beyond titles and accomplishments, this biography captures Holmes’s humanity. Her resilience, mentorship, humor, and unapologetic passions, including her love of K-pop, are highlighted. Together, these qualities portray a president who leads with conviction, empathy, and joy.
2026-07-14
Andy Hickner, Diana Delgado, Jessica Boyle, Lynne Holden, Sarah Jewell, Michael A. Wood, Terrie R. Wheeler
Background: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are underrepresented in librarianship. We developed a curriculum to introduce high school students from BIPOC communities to careers in health sciences librarianship and to concepts and skills in health information literacy. Case Presentation: Librarians at Weill Cornell Medicine partnered with Mentoring in Medicine, a Bronx-based nonprofit, to develop the Community Health Ambassador Program (CHAmP) curriculum. The project settings were at three New York City schools. The project took place over two years, with the pilot taking place in year 1, followed by an assessment which included data from pre- and posttests measuring student learning and focus groups with the students to gather feedback about their experience. Informed by data from the year one assessment, we worked with an experienced high school teacher to redesign the curriculum for year 2. Changes included reducing the amount of lecture and providing more time for activities to reinforce the content, including a team final project and presentations. In year two focus groups, students demonstrated increased understanding of health sciences librarianship and indicated increased engagement and enjoyment of the course compared to year 1. There was a statistically significant improvement in the mean student score from the pretest to the posttest. Conclusions: The revised curriculum resulted in increased student engagement and statistically significant improvement in learning compared to the year one pilot. We have published the full curriculum online under a Creative Commons license so that other organizations may implement it in their communities.
2026-07-14
Kristi Sadowski, DeBran Tarver, Jennifer Burnette, Allissa Dillman, Regina Renfro, LaFrancis Gibson, Kelli Bursey, Laura Bartlett, Nadine Bonds-Bishop, Lisa Connor, Efraín Flores-Rivera, Sarah Joseph, Yuqi He, Margaret Henderson, Savannah L. Kelley, Maletta Payne, Brett Porter, Kimberly Prosper, Melissa Rethlefsen, Deborah J. Rhue, Dede Rios, Anna Simonson, Jocelyn Swick-Jemison, Linda Todd, Shelby Watson, Semhar Yohannes
Background: Fulfilling a recognized need in data skills training for academic librarians, the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program collaborated to enhance academic library workers’ skills in biomedical and public health data, as well as their library's research capacity, through the awareness and use of the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Case Presentation: The All of Us Data Training and Engagement Program for Academic Libraries (ALP) blended professional development training, hands-on learning, and peer-to-peer networking that focused on increasing knowledge of the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Activities were designed to build institution-wide, interdisciplinary awareness and interest in using the All of Us Researcher Workbench. A series of ongoing activities ensured sustained skill-building and collaboration, and included training for R, a program language used for statistical computing and data visualization. Program activities were intentionally designed to help grow institutional research capacity, enhance skills in biomedical and public health data, and promote meaningful use of the Researcher Workbench to campus communities. Conclusion: The ALP helped participants overcome barriers to data access and improve research infrastructure and successfully empowered 115 library professionals to leverage the All of Us Researcher Workbench for meaningful biomedical and public health research. Measured outcomes validate the success of the program and demonstrate how the ALP has positioned participating institutions for long-term success in biomedical and public health research. Institutions can build upon the foundation established through this case report to advance equitable, data-driven health research across academic landscapes.
2026-07-14
Dean Giustini, Alexandre Amar-Zifkin, Eileen Chen, Janice Y. Kung
Objectives: To synthesize and map literature on automated indexing of the biomedical literature, with a focus on the Medical Text Indexer (MTI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM). We review the drivers, benefits, and challenges of automated indexing, evolution of the MTI from 2000-2025, and impacts on information retrieval in MEDLINE. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and reported findings using PRISMA-ScR and PRISMA-S. We searched several bibliographic databases, key journals, conference proceedings, and grey literature sources, with no restrictions on language or study design. Eligible publications were published 2000-2025 and focused on MTI development. Screening, data charting, and thematic analysis were conducted by multiple reviewers. Results: We included 64 publications, with most originating from the United States (n=53, 83%) and five from Canada (8%). Study methods included evaluation or comparative studies (65%), qualitative descriptions (25%), and mixed methods (11%). MTI evolved from a rules-based recommendation tool in 2002 to the neural network–based MTIX in 2024. Despite numerous enhancements to the MTI, human curation remains necessary for approximately one-third of records to correct inaccuracies, capture missed concepts, and address errors arising from figurative language or algorithmic biases. Conclusions: This review synthesizes twenty-five years of MTI research (2000–2025). Despite reduced indexing times and a markedly improved algorithm, the MTIX has not yet achieved full equivalence to human indexing. Our findings suggest searchers should watch for algorithmic ambiguities in their MEDLINE searching and adapt accordingly. Health sciences librarians should work with stakeholders, including authors, to shape future algorithmic indexing methods, outputs, evaluation and research.
2026-04-13
Seonyoung Kim, Xing Jian, Marcy Vana
In response to the 2023 NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis launched Digital Commons Data@Becker, a generalist institutional data repository supporting both open and restricted access to research data. Managed by Bernard Becker Medical Library’s DMS Team, the repository offers a fully mediated curation workflow that guides researchers through consultation, metadata capture, documentation, and quality control. Draft Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) can be issued once access type is determined, with final DOI publication following curation and QC. Restricted datasets require Human Research Protection Office (HRPO) review and Data Transfer and Use Agreements (DTUAs), while open access datasets are freely downloadable. The repository leverages persistent identifiers such as Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID iDs), Research Organization Registry (ROR) IDs, and DOIs, along with the DataCite metadata schema and custom metadata fields. Since its launch in 2023, Digital Commons Data@Becker has published 30 datasets spanning biomedical imaging, sequencing, quantitative assays, flow cytometry, and qualitative survey data. Across all datasets, there have been 4,409 views and 4,120 files downloaded, with restricted datasets generating 13 access requests, three of which were granted through DTUAs. Researchers emphasize the value of free institutional curation, flexible access models, and rapid DOI assignment. Digital Commons Data@Becker demonstrates how a generalist institutional data repository can balance accessibility and security to support NIH compliance, while advancing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data sharing and long-term stewardship.
2026-04-13
Emily Gorman, Nicole Shelawala, Amy Yarnell
As part of an effort to seek sustainable support models for Open Access (OA) publishing, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), Health Sciences and Human Services Library’s (HSHSL’s) Scholarly Communications Committee developed an interactive dashboard to visualize university-wide OA publishing trends. Using publication data exported from Scopus and visualized in Microsoft Power BI, the dashboard displays five years of publishing trends by OA model, publisher, journal, school, and citation count. The dashboard is fully interactive, allowing users to filter results based on school, OA model, and year. The design of the dashboard was iterative, with planning discussions taking place in Summer 2024, data model development and initial data collection in Fall 2024, refining of the visualization and data model in early Spring 2025, and the publication of the final dashboard to our website in April 2025. The dashboard continues to be refined and improved based on feedback from stakeholders, and the project team plans to incorporate data on publishing costs in Spring 2026. The project was designed for sustainability and adaptability, with a documented workflow that will be easy for future committees to implement. This innovative, replicable approach supports informed decision-making around OA publishing and provides a model that can be adopted by other academic health sciences libraries.
2026-04-13
Robin Featherstone
To advance information retrieval science for producing evidence syntheses at Canada’s Drug Agency, the Research Information Services team developed a replicable process to evaluate automated or artificial intelligence (AI) search tools. The team inventoried 51 tools in the fall of 2023 and built a flexible evaluation instrument to inform adoption decisions and enable comparison between tools. Building on this foundational evaluation work, the team further conducted a comparative analysis on three top-ranked tools in the fall of 2024. The investigation confirmed that these automated or AI tools have inconsistent and variable performance for the range of information retrieval tasks performed by Information Specialists at Canada’s Drug Agency. Implementation recommendations from this study informed a “fit for purpose” approach where Information Specialists leverage automated or AI search tools for specific tasks or project types.
2026-04-13
Annabelle V. Nuñez, Kate Flewelling, Emily Vardell, Kristine M. Alpi
In this profile, Brenda M. Linares, AHIP, Medical Library Association (MLA) president 2024-25 is introduced through a discussion of her contributions and commitment to growing the next generation of Latina library leaders. As the first Latina immigrant MLA president, she partnered with colleagues to build organizational structures to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion in multiple regional chapters of MLA. In addition to her focus on integrating her family into her professional engagements, Linares brought a strong business orientation from her bachelor’s degree in Finance and her Master of Business Administration to her MLA leadership and to her professional role as Associate Dean of Library Services, University of Missouri- Kansas City (UKMC) Libraries.
2026-03-13
Endah Fitriasari
2026-03-13
Janis Brown
2026-03-13
Muhammad Taufan Umasugi
2026-03-13
Jean Shipman
The medical or health sciences library professional vocabulary uses many words that start with an I . On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Janet Doe Lectureship, this lecture highlights and summarizes the 15 lectures (27%) that have included an I in their titles. The most frequent I word was information; this word appeared in four lectures. Only one lecture used more than one I word in the title. A new I word incorporated in this lecture but not its title is Intelligence, Artificial. +Italics were used to emphasize I words within the lecture or titles of published works.
2026-03-13
Erin Roga
Background : Knowledge syntheses require complex searches of the literature, but many have poor quality, irreproducible search methods. Academic libraries support researchers conducting knowledge syntheses in many ways, including providing training such as workshops. However, for training to be successful, effective teaching theories and methods need to be used, such as andragogy and instructional design. These can help to develop learning strategies and experiences based on the needs of the learners. Case Presentation : At Federation University Australia Library, in response to increasing requests for support from researchers conducting knowledge syntheses, a series of workshops on systematic searching was developed using adult learning methods. We aimed to deliver quality, engaging learning experiences to researchers, and using instructional design was likely to help us meet this goal. Learning outcomes were identified, followed by developing active, collaborative learning strategies and activities. After implementation, the workshops were evaluated informally, resulting in planned changes and improvements to future offerings. Conclusions : Using andragogy and instructional design was a successful method of developing the workshops as it provided a structure to follow, and centered researcher needs. While positive feedback was received from workshop participants, there is a need to formally evaluate the learning outcomes to determine if the workshops resulted in improvements in systematic searching practices. The approach to developing the workshops can be adapted by other libraries delivering similar training on systematic searching. It is our aim that by promoting the use of effective teaching methods, the quality of search methods in knowledge syntheses will improve.
2026-03-13
Suja Philip, Reghu Kurain
2025-10-23
Kate Corcoran
2025-08-01
Cynthia Sheffield, Gisela Butera, Dera Tompkins, Vence Bonham, Deborah Duran, Kimberly Middleton, Corina Galindo
Background: Investigators encounter challenges in uncovering valuable studies when they are researching health disparities and minority health literature. This evidence scan and qualitative/quantitative crosswalk analysis looked at maternal health literature to gain a better understanding of the nuances in articulating the social determinates of health (SDoH) concepts aligned with the NIMHD Research Framework. SDoH concepts describe the multifaceted causes of health disparities, as opposed to effects that result in health outcomes. Methods: An evidence scan was conducted to identify literature for a health disparity population using infant low birth weight as a sample population. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of results was performed to examine the medical subject headings (MeSH) terms used to index the literature, along with the terminology used to describe various concepts related to the SDoH within the literature. A crosswalk of MeSH terms to SDoH concepts was used to see if a concentrated focus on SDoH concepts would improve discoverability of the literature. Results: The 31 articles selected demonstrated that 80% of the MeSH indexed keywords are unique within this collection of full text articles, despite the commonality of the topic. VOSviewer and a Python term counting program were used to visualize the diffusion of terminology. NVivo textual analysis revealed SDoH concepts within meaningful phrases within the literature. Major SDoH themes emerged from the analysis, although were not indexed. Authors used a crosswalk approach with SDoH concepts, to demonstrate that MeSH terms could be used to identify content with a more granular SDoH focus. Conclusion: Identifying literature that has SDoH concepts within the full text is difficult, due to the diffused nature of the terminology used to describe these concepts. This paper proposes to demonstrate how a crosswalk approach from MeSH terminology to SDoH concepts can provide a methodology for improving the discoverability of the literature. New technologies such as natural language processing, combined with existing technologies to normalize disparate ways of describing similar or related constructs, could be used to help discover and synthesize literature related to SDoH. Investigators, indexers, and librarians can work together to create an improved process for researchers.