The document outlines Elaine Martin's plan to redefine the health sciences librarianship model through the Lamar Soutter Library Fellows Program. The 2-year program provides hands-on training, professional development, and research experience. It involves customer support, training modules, and a research project. Martin establishes 3 task forces to develop a new reference model, curriculum for the fellows, and potential research projects. The goal is to prepare fellows for evolving roles through meaningful real-world experiences and contributions to the library.

1. Part II
Implementing the 4 Rs:
Moving Forward and Defining a
New Model of Health Science
Librarianship
Elaine Martin, D.A.
Director of Library Services
Lamar Soutter Library
August 2013

2. Creating Opportunities for the
New Health Sciences Librarian:
LSL Fellows Program

3.  Summary of Program
 Program Objectives
 Program Details
 Program Evaluation
 Moving Forward
 Next Steps
Outline

4. Summary of Library Fellows Program
 Provides a two-year work experience emphasizing
hands-on learning and research into topics of
information management, medical librarianship, and
the biomedical sciences.
 Incorporates training, professional development, and
research.
 Guides the fellow toward a professional career in
academic medical Librarianship.
 LSL is the learning laboratory for exploring the ins and
outs of assisting clinicians, researchers, educators, and
students with their information needs.
 Fellows contribute to LSL by performing meaningful
projects and assignments and bringing passion and
new ideas about librarianship to the organization.

5. Program Objectives
 Provide a comprehensive range of experiences that will
result in a solid foundation in health sciences information
services and will prepare librarians for new roles in health
sciences libraries and in health services research.
 Provide fellows with the opportunity to translate theoretical
library science principles into practice.
 Fellows will experience and contribute to the best
practices, skills, and technologies that are shaping the future
of the medical and health sciences library profession.
 Expose fellows to research, clinical care, and education in
the academic medical environment, and provide them with
the opportunity to take on new roles as members of clinical
and biomedical research teams.
 Fellows will contribute to the professional literature and
knowledge base by examining current issues and trends,
identifying research areas and conducting first hand
research.

6. Program Details

7. Foundation
 Recruit newly graduated MLS students for
two year fellowship (optional third year)
 The fellowship is divided into three
concurrent modules:
 Customer Support for mission critical areas
of the medical school: patient care,
research, and education
 Training
 Research Projects

8. Customer Support for Mission
Critical Areas
 In-depth reference requests from researchers, faculty,
administration, and students, such as:
 Developing complicated search strings for clinical,
educational, and research staff.
 Getting people started with research
 Helping people decide where to publish
 Complex IR work (Institutional Repository is expanding)
including name authority work, reviewing author rights,
etc.
 Complex cataloging work accessing and modifying
records in a national database.
 Provide end user access to information resources using
local, regional, and national collections and systems.

9. Training
 The training is done through shadowing selected hands-on experience
with LSL Librarians and appropriate workshops. Training opportunities
may include, but are not limited to:
 Reference resources and techniques
 Advanced searching techniques
 Evidence based Medicine
 Bibliographic management tools
 Institutional Review Board (IRB)
 Morning report in various clinical departments
 Embedded librarianship in a research area
 E-Science programs and seminars
 Data Management
 Library systems and web
 Workshops and professional meeting with NAHSL, BLC, MLA, MAHSLIN
etc….
 Participate in the house librarians program
 Introduction to Regional medical Library
 Instruction techniques

10. Research Projects
 Each year, the fellow, with guidance from the
manager/mentor, will choose a three to six month research
project related to health science librarianship.
 The projects will utilize research methods
 The projects could focus on the use of a technology, evidence-
based medicine, informatics, data or knowledge
management, etc.
 A mentor will guide the Fellow through the project.
 The results are delivered in written reports, presentations, and
publications at peer reviewed level.
 The purpose of the projects is to create a self-directed course
of study and investigation and to meet the challenge of
interpreting results for decision-making in a library environment.

11. Professional Development
 Attend workshops and meetings
sponsored by professional organizations
such as: NAHSL, MAHSLIN, BLC, and MLA
 Take Continuing Education (CE)classes

12. Program Evaluation
Longitudinal tracking across several
cohorts
Impact on library
Impact on library profession

13. Moving Forward

14. Organization Chart
Director
Assoc.
Director
Library
Operations
Supervisor
Library Fellow
O3s
Library Fellow
Library Fellow
Library Clerk
Library Clerk
Supervisor

15. Library Fellow Job Description
GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:
Under the direction of a Librarian or designee, the Library Fellow
contributes to the organization by performing meaningful
projects and assignments. The Library Fellows Program (LFP) is
designed to provide a 2 year work experience emphasizing
hands-on learning and research into topics of information
management, and medical librarianship. The program
incorporates training, professional development, and research. It
is designed to guide the fellow toward a professional career in
academic medical librarianship. The underlying principle of the
fellow program “is shared value”. The Lamar Soutter Library (LSL)
provides a learning laboratory where recent MLS graduates
experience the real working world and explore the range of
experience when assisting clinicians and researchers with their
information needs.

16. Job Description, cont.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Provide reference service on demand via personal contact, telephone, or e-mail
using a variety of information tools and library systems
 Promote information and research services, engaging users to assess work needs
beyond initial reference inquiries
 Provide end user access to information resources using local, regional, and national
collections and systems
 Provide technology support to patrons
 Participate in and lead strategic initiative teams, committees, and task forces
 Develop content for the library’s web page and posts using content management
tool, e.g. LibGuides
 Evaluate services and suggest changes to improve effectiveness
 Participate in Library professional staff and consortia meetings
 Design and implement research projects and publications in order to contribute to
the advance in medical librarianship
 In collaboration with the librarian mentor complete a research project related to
health science librarianship in a focus area such as technology, evidence- based
medicine, informatics, data or knowledge management
 Deliver reports, presentations, and publications at peer reviewed level
 Create a self- directed course of study and investigations to meet the challenge of
interpreting results for decision making in a library environment
 Perform other duties as required.
 Provide in depth and ready reference service to patrons

17. Job Description, cont.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
MLS degree in an ALA- approved library/information
science program
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1-2 years of library research or health related
experience is preferred
May be able to work occasional weekends
Apply at: https://careers-umms.icims.com/jobs/21916/library-fellow/login

18. Next Steps
 Three Task Forces
 Reference Services Task Force
 Fellows’ Research Projects Task Force
 Fellows’ Curriculum Task Force
 Begin Recruitment

19. Reference Services Task Force
Charge: The Reference Services Task Force will develop a plan for
an appointment based, consultation reference service to
replace the current triage/pager model. The goal is to provide
needed service without staffing a desk. The new model will have
no desk, no paging system, no “on call” librarians.
Deliverable: The team will submit a recommendation to the
Management team, including the service model and plan for
implementation.
Due: October 1, 2013

20. Fellows’ Curriculum Task Force
Charge: The Fellows’ Curriculum Task Force will develop a curriculum that will provide a
comprehensive range of experiences resulting in a broad foundation in health sciences
information services. The curriculum is a two year program, and should touch on all areas of
medical librarianship and all areas of LSL, including institutional repository, biomedical research
services, reference, expert searching, clinical experiences such as IRB and morning report,
systems and web work, customer service, database knowledge, WorldCat Local, resource
sharing, cataloging, and circulation and access policies. The curriculum could encompass
classes, hands on work, shadowing, mentoring program, etc. Consider length of “assignment”
in each area. The task force should consider these questions, What makes a medical librarian
different from other academic librarians and What competencies are necessary for a medical
librarian? Learning objectives should be developed from the answers to these questions.
Phase 1: Develop the overall plan for the two year integrated curriculum involving the whole
Library. Plan should include competencies, learning objectives, a basic curriculum to support
those objectives, and a plan for evaluation.
Upon approval of the plan by the Management Team, the task force will begin Phase II.
Phase II: Create the first year syllabus for the curriculum, including recommended readings,
activities, exercises, and instructors. Create an outline for the second year.
Deliverables:
Due October 1: Overall plan for a two year integrated curriculum.
Due October 15: First two weeks of first year syllabus. This is the first Phase II deliverable. Work on
the remaining syllabus will continue with due dates to be determined.

21. Fellows’ Research Projects Task Force
Background: Each year, the Fellow, with guidance from the manager/mentor, will
choose a three to six month research project related to health science librarianship.
The projects will utilize research methods and could focus on the use of a technology,
evidence-based medicine, informatics, data or knowledge management, etc. A
mentor will guide the Fellow through the project. The results are delivered in written
reports, presentations, and publications at peer reviewed level. The purpose of the
projects is to create a self-directed course of study and investigation and to meet the
challenge of interpreting results for decision-making in a library environment. Research
should be relevant to and benefit LSL. LSL’s Research Guidelines will be a resource for
the fellows.
Charge: The Fellows’ Research Projects Task Force will identify 10 (or more) projects
from which the fellows may choose according to their interests. The task force should
ask for input from all LSL Librarians. Projects must be relevant to LSL.
Deliverable: List of 10 (or more) research projects, including short descriptions of the
scope of the research and the expected outcomes for or value to LSL. Include the
name of the department contact for each project.
Due: October 1, 2013

22. For more information contact:
Elaine Martin, D.A.
Director of Library Services
Lamar Soutter Library
UMass Medical School
elaine.martin@umassmed.edu