Introduction to Health Sciences Librarianship: A Management Handbook

(Hardback)

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Health sciences librarianship today demands a balance among computer files, human ingenuity, and print sources. The many information sources presently available enable health sciences librarians to do a better job, but that job has also become correspondingly more difficult. This professional reference surveys the various types of print and electronic resources important to the health sciences and provides valuable practical advice to librarians for meeting the information needs of researchers, practicing physicians, and other health professionals. Health sciences librarianship today demands a balance among electronic files, human ingenuity, and print sources. Thanks to computerization and telecommunications, librarians can do much more now than just a few years ago. While the tremendous growth in available resources has enabled librarians to provide more thorough information to patrons, the process of doing so has become correspondingly more complex. While librarians still need to use many traditional skills, they must also develop new ways of finding and utilizing information. This professional reference surveys the field of health sciences librarianship and provides extensive practical advice to assist health sciences librarians in meeting the information needs of their patrons. Because journal literature is the principal medium of information in the health sciences, the book begins with an examination of the roles that journals play as well as the large proportion of the library budget that they consume. The volume then discusses techniques of searching journal literature, such as print and electronic indexing and abstracting tools. Additional chapters are devoted to the selection and organization of health sciences books, and reference tools and services. Special attention is given to the electronic distribution of biomedical information. With important sources of health information now becoming available via the Internet, this book provides a point of departure to evaluate those sources. The final chapter discusses the various environments that shape health sciences librarianship, such as library settings, professional associations, and economic contexts.

Reviews

.,."I would have all new health sciences librarians read [this book]....[The author] puts his reader at ease with a controversial, straightforward style and minimal hyperbole....[F]ills a niche, offering a current and very readable overview of health sciences library practice."-Technical Services Quarterly
"The subtitle, "a management handbook" does not describe the truly introductory and practical focus of this text-a book I would have all new health sciences librarians read....[The author] puts his reader at ease with a conversational, straightforward style and minimal hyperbole....[F]ills a niche, offering a current and very readable overview of health sciences library practice."-Collection Management
"This is an excellent book. Kellerman's style is consistently direct and readable, making it accessible to...information professionals and users of the literature....[I]n terms of its coverage of health sciences literature as a training guide, Kellerman is commendably thorough and useful."-The Australian Library Journal
...I would have all new health sciences librarians read [this book]....[The author] puts his reader at ease with a controversial, straightforward style and minimal hyperbole....[F]ills a niche, offering a current and very readable overview of health sciences library practice.-Technical Services Quarterly
[A] well-researched and thorough treatment of the many facets of health sciences librarianship. [Kellerman} provides comprehensive background information in such areas as the importance of the journal to the field of biomedicine, the effect of journal costs on the library's budget, indexing and abstracting services, computerized resources, collection development and cataloging issues, reference services and sources, and economic issues in healthcare that ultimately affect the medical library....the side issues of healthcare economics and the in-depth treatment of the biomedical journal could serve as a valuable educational resource to even the most experienced librarian. Highly recommended for librarians new to the field as well as for instructors of health sciences librarianship.-Library Journal
Despite having worked in medical and science libraries for years, I picked up some tips and learnt some useful information. For any one setting out to run a "one professional library" this book will set them out on the right track. Librarians in other specialist fields will probably get some good ideas. If you have not yet been converted to pro-active librarianship this might encourage you. It is an easy and enjoyable read....strongly recommend his book.-Library Review
Kellerman's introduction to health sciences librarianship belongs on reference librarians' professional reading shelf, especially in libraries where readers might seek health information....This is a clearly written, well organized text that will be useful in many library settings.-Public Library Quarterly
The subtitle, "a management handbook" does not describe the truly introductory and practical focus of this text-a book I would have all new health sciences librarians read....[The author] puts his reader at ease with a conversational, straightforward style and minimal hyperbole....[F]ills a niche, offering a current and very readable overview of health sciences library practice.-Collection Management
This comprehensive, well-written book is an excellent starting point for library science students and new librarians with an interest in health sciences librarianship.-Reference & User Services Quarterly
This is a very readable book which would make an excellent first encounter with health sciences librarianship for a library student, or even a professional from another field.-Jnl. of Education for Library and Information Science
This is an excellent book. Kellerman's style is consistently direct and readable, making it accessible to...information professionals and users of the literature....[I]n terms of its coverage of health sciences literature as a training guide, Kellerman is commendably thorough and useful.-The Australian Library Journal
This is one of the best expositions of health sciences librarianship to appear in many years. It is well written, complete but not comprehensive, and a pleasure to read and study....Mr. Kellerman has done an excellent job of presenting the concrete information and the abstractions of the field....The book is pleasant to read, the format is comfortable, and the information up-to-date and reliable. It is an excellent addition to the literature of the field.-World Libraries
..."I would have all new health sciences librarians read this book....The author puts his reader at ease with a controversial, straightforward style and minimal hyperbole....Fills a niche, offering a current and very readable overview of health sciences library practice."-Technical Services Quarterly
"A well-researched and thorough treatment of the many facets of health sciences librarianship. Kellerman} provides comprehensive background information in such areas as the importance of the journal to the field of biomedicine, the effect of journal costs on the library's budget, indexing and abstracting services, computerized resources, collection development and cataloging issues, reference services and sources, and economic issues in healthcare that ultimately affect the medical library....the side issues of healthcare economics and the in-depth treatment of the biomedical journal could serve as a valuable educational resource to even the most experienced librarian. Highly recommended for librarians new to the field as well as for instructors of health sciences librarianship."-Library Journal
"Despite having worked in medical and science libraries for years, I picked up some tips and learnt some useful information. For any one setting out to run a "one professional library" this book will set them out on the right track. Librarians in other specialist fields will probably get some good ideas. If you have not yet been converted to pro-active librarianship this might encourage you. It is an easy and enjoyable read....strongly recommend his book."-Library Review
"Kellerman's introduction to health sciences librarianship belongs on reference librarians' professional reading shelf, especially in libraries where readers might seek health information....This is a clearly written, well organized text that will be useful in many library settings."-Public Library Quarterly
"This comprehensive, well-written book is an excellent starting point for library science students and new librarians with an interest in health sciences librarianship."-Reference & User Services Quarterly
"This is a very readable book which would make an excellent first encounter with health sciences librarianship for a library student, or even a professional from another field."-Jnl. of Education for Library and Information Science
"This is one of the best expositions of health sciences librarianship to appear in many years. It is well written, complete but not comprehensive, and a pleasure to read and study....Mr. Kellerman has done an excellent job of presenting the concrete information and the abstractions of the field....The book is pleasant to read, the format is comfortable, and the information up-to-date and reliable. It is an excellent addition to the literature of the field."-World Libraries
"[A] well-researched and thorough treatment of the many facets of health sciences librarianship. [Kellerman} provides comprehensive background information in such areas as the importance of the journal to the field of biomedicine, the effect of journal costs on the library's budget, indexing and abstracting services, computerized resources, collection development and cataloging issues, reference services and sources, and economic issues in healthcare that ultimately affect the medical library....the side issues of healthcare economics and the in-depth treatment of the biomedical journal could serve as a valuable educational resource to even the most experienced librarian. Highly recommended for librarians new to the field as well as for instructors of health sciences librarianship."-Library Journal

Author Bio

FRANK R. KELLERMAN is Biomedical Reference/Collection Development Librarian at Brown University and an Instructor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Rhode Island. His articles have appeared in journals such as Science and Technology Libraries and RQ.