The value of health libraries and librarians to the Irish health system

Librarians working in the Irish health sector are under threat. This is a relatively young profession in comparison with international counterparts, with a low staffing base even at its peak. The public sector moratorium has led to professionally qualified librarians and library assistants not being replaced right across the health system. Librarians are employed in the HSE, voluntary sector, and university sectors. The value that this profession brings to healthcare has been documented in systematic reviews and literature in other countries. In Ireland this group is represented by the Health Science Libraries Group (HSLG), a section of the Library Association of Ireland. The HSLG commissioned research into the status of the profession as well as Irish health libraries. This resulted in the publication of the "SHeLLI Report" in 2011. Results of the report are outlined here and selected examples of value of librarians to healthcare are described.