[Information services facing the COVID-19 pandemic].

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Public Health
• Medical Librarianship

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to an overwhelming volume of information across all media, including scientific dissemination channels.
• Librarians at the Mexican Institute for Social Security (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) played a vital role in curating information for healthcare professionals.
• Physical distancing measures heightened the demand for accurate and current information on the novel coronavirus.

Discussion:

• Librarians adapted by developing remote strategies to deliver specialized information services.
• Key services enhanced included bibliographic alerts and Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI).
• These services aimed to provide timely, reliable, and high-quality COVID-19 information to users.

Key Insights:

• Remote information services, including bibliographic alerts and SDI, were well-received by healthcare personnel.
• Librarians effectively supported academic, educational, teaching, and research activities during the pandemic.
• The need for systematized information service provision was identified to gauge user interest and document utility.

Outlook:

• Further systematization of information services is required to identify the most valuable resources.
• Continued adaptation of library services is essential to meet evolving information needs in public health crises.
• Strengthening remote access to curated scientific information remains a priority for supporting healthcare professionals.