Promoting New and Expanded Roles for Librarians and Information Specialists

Area of Science:

• Health sciences information management
• Medical librarianship
• Information science in healthcare

Background:

• Technological advancements and public policy shifts necessitated changes in information dissemination.
• The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) aimed to broaden its services to all users, including health professionals and the public.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the U.S. National Library of Medicine's (NLM) initiatives under Donald A.B. Lindberg M.D. in expanding roles for librarians and information specialists.
• To highlight how NLM's strategic direction fostered new opportunities for health information professionals.

Main Methods:

• The chapter outlines NLM's programmatic and policy expansions.
• It details the leadership's approach to integrating librarians and information specialists into new endeavors.

Main Results:

• Librarians and information specialists were actively included in NLM's new initiatives.
• This involvement facilitated the recognition and establishment of expanded professional roles.

Conclusions:

• The integration of health sciences information professionals into multidisciplinary research, community outreach, and data management redefined the profession.
• NLM's strategic leadership under Dr. Lindberg was pivotal in adapting the health sciences information profession to the 21st century.