Impact of information technology on the role of health sciences librarians

Information technology is transforming the nature of health sciences information and its management, thereby altering the traditional responsibilities of health sciences librarians. As a result, the traditional educational preparation for librarianship is no longer entirely relevant, and there is a real possibility that information management will be taken over by individuals with different educational backgrounds and skills. This paper explores four topics relevant to this issue: the emergence of new forms of health sciences information, the impact of technology on the practice of health sciences librarianship, the interaction of technology and the practice of health sciences librarianship, and the relationship among these three topics and the educational preparation of health sciences librarians.