Utilization of a Librarian in a Pharmacy Laboratory Course.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Medical Librarianship
• Information Literacy

Background:

• Pharmacy laboratory courses require specialized drug information skills.
• Traditional library instruction may not meet the immediate needs of students in practical laboratory settings.
• Integrating librarians into coursework offers a novel approach to enhance learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the integration and evolution of a librarian's role in a pharmacy laboratory course.
• To assess the impact of enhanced, case-based instruction and point-of-need support.
• To evaluate the utilization of an online chat service for student assistance.

Main Methods:

• A librarian collaborated with pharmacy faculty to develop and deliver curriculum over two academic years.
• Instruction progressed from drug information review sessions to case-based, hands-on learning modules.
• A pilot program introduced LibChat, an online chat service, for real-time student support.

Main Results:

• Library instruction evolved significantly, becoming more interactive and integrated with course content.
• Student utilization of the LibChat service demonstrated a need for immediate information access.
• Faculty and student feedback provided insights into the effectiveness and areas for improvement.

Conclusions:

• Librarian integration into pharmacy laboratory courses enhances drug information literacy and practical skills.
• Point-of-need support through services like LibChat is valuable for pharmacy students.
• Collaborative teaching models between librarians and faculty are effective for specialized scientific education.