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Library school education for medical librarianship
Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
|October 1, 1979
Summary
Medical librarianship education in the United States and Canada has expanded significantly since 1939. In 1978, seventy courses were available across forty-seven accredited library schools, with specialization and certification impacting curricula.
Area of Science:
- Library and Information Science
- Medical Librarianship Education
Background:
- The first dedicated medical librarianship course was offered in 1939.
- Accredited library schools have increasingly incorporated medical librarianship into their curricula.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of medical librarianship education in the US and Canada.
- To examine course content, specialization opportunities, and the impact of certification.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was distributed to instructors of medical librarianship courses.
- Data was collected from accredited library schools in the United States and Canada.
Main Results:
- By 1978, 47 ALA-accredited library schools offered 70 courses in medical librarianship.
- Opportunities for specialization within medical librarianship were identified.
Conclusions:
- Medical librarianship education has a substantial presence in North American library schools.
- The Medical Library Association (MLA) certification examination influences course development.