Health sciences librarian research and instruction services in pandemic information environments

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences Librarianship
• Academic Libraries
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered academic environments, impacting health sciences education and research.
• Academic health sciences librarians adapted services to meet new demands in a rapidly evolving information landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the research and instruction services offered by academic health sciences librarians in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify the specific services most in demand and the methods used to support health sciences education and research.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was distributed to academic health sciences librarians across the United States.
• A total of 205 librarians responded, providing data on their involvement in research and instruction services during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• Top research services included in-depth literature searching (86%), curated COVID-19 research guides (66%), and systematic review consultations (53%).
• Instructional support involved providing online course instruction (92%), facilitating access to licensed resources (73%), and identifying open access/educational resources (62%).

Conclusions:

• Academic health sciences librarians played a vital role in supporting health sciences education and research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The study highlights the adaptability and essential nature of library services in navigating unprecedented information environments.