Virtual Services in the Health Sciences Library

Virtual services have been part of health sciences libraries for a long time in various forms, including the provision of reference and research services via email or chat, availability of online instruction, access to electronic materials, and the curation of virtual research guides. But when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many libraries to close their doors and pivot to virtual services almost overnight. Moving all services remote, even for just a short time, did highlight what worked well and what did not. The situation increased visibility of these services and made patrons more aware of what was available, perhaps making them more likely to expect and use those services in the future. In some ways, the pandemic showed us ways in which virtual services could even be better than in person services for providing prompt patron services. The situation increased visibility of existing services, making users more aware of what was available, and revealed gaps and needed improvements in virtual services.

In this book copublished by the Medical Library Association, librarians from academic to hospital health sciences libraries, from rural to urban areas, and across a range of service specialties provide blueprints and best practices for building and maintaining sustainable virtual services in health sciences libraries. Each chapter in this volume addresses aspects of providing virtual services in information and access services, reference and instruction, collections, and clinical services written by contributors who have been involved in this work in their own libraries.

Whether you are just beginning an implementation, assessing and refining current offerings, or strategizing for sustainability and looking to the future, this book will provide practical advice, tools, and considerations for maximizing user engagement and satisfaction with virtual library services and resources.

“This comprehensive handbook will resonate with all health sciences libraries, large and small, urban and rural, after their pandemic pivot to exclusive use of virtual resources and services. The Handbook offers invaluable information on virtual services, including community engagement; empowering and supporting staff; adapting instruction and accessing educational materials for students; and models for research consultations online and virtual systematic review workshops. Highly recommended.”

A positive outcome of the challenges of Covid, this volume is jam-packed with practical advice and examples for adding and assessing virtual services. Attuned to both the needs of administrators and practitioners, each thoughtful chapter, by a bevy of excellent writers and thinkers, share tips, frameworks, questions, and also provides additional online content. This is a must-read overview as it touches on virtual services from so many adjacent fields: marketing, human resources, assessment, scholarly communication and openness, sustainability. The definition of virtual services is broad - from twitter to telephone - so there are innovative examples in this volume for every kind of librarian, rural or urban, large hospital to small academic setting. You'll want to keep a copy of this book close at hand; I found myself thinking of colleagues to whom I would refer every chapter.

--Holly Grossetta Nardini, Associate Director, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, Medical Library Association's 2018 Academic Medical Librarian of the Year

Amanda R. Scull, editor and contributor to the slim but impactful Virtual Services in the Health Sciences Library: A Handbook, has compiled ten chapters that offer insights into how staff at various health sciences libraries not only quickly adapted and pivoted their services during the emergency stages of the pandemic but how they have continued to build upon and utilize virtual services to engage users, build community, and strengthen their assessment processes and instruction as they have transitioned into the new normal.

-- "E-Resources Reviews"

Given its practical strategies and engaging text, this reviewer finds Virtual Services in the Health Sciences Library: A Handbook to be an inspiring and a highly recommended reference for health sciences libraries.

-- "Journal of the Medical Library Association"

Highly recommended, Virtual Services in the Health Sciences Library: A Handbookis an excellent resource for health science librarians who desire to enhance and optimally maintain their library's virtual service offerings. There are many thought-provoking ideas and suggestions for creating new services and adapting existing services to maximize virtual engagement with library patrons.

-- "Medical Reference Services Quarterly"

This book offers technical services professionals practical ideas on how to plan for, transition to, sustain, and (if necessary) roll back remote operations. While written from the perspective of an academic library, much of the authors' guidance in ensuring the physical and emotional wellbeing of employees is applicable to all types of technical services and library operations. Readers will also find some useful justifications to help push for more remote work options in technical services.

-- "Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship"

This comprehensive handbook will resonate with all health sciences libraries, large and small, urban and rural, after their pandemic pivot to exclusive use of virtual resources and services. The Handbook offers invaluable information on virtual services, including community engagement; empowering and supporting staff; adapting instruction and accessing educational materials for students; and models for research consultations online and virtual systematic review workshops. Highly recommended.

--Claire B. Joseph, MS, MA, AHIP, Director, Singh Medical Library, Mount Sinai South Nassau, Oceanside, NY

Chosen as a Doody's Core Title for 2023.

Amanda R. Scull holds an MLIS from Syracuse University and is the head of Education and Information Services at the Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries, where she has been deeply involved in the transition of both teaching and patron services to the virtual environment during the COVID-19 closure. Prior to Dartmouth, she worked as collection development librarian and information studies faculty librarian at Keene State College.

The handbook includes sections on information and access services, reference and instruction, collections, and clinical services, encompassing the challenges and opportunities presented by virtual services for nearly every area of the health sciences library.

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