Library-based Support for Clinical and Translational Research: The

Informationist

Michele R. Tennant, PhD, MLIS, AHIP

Health Science Center Libraries

and UF Genetics Institute

University of Florida

tennantm@ufl.edu

Informationist • “The Informationist: A New Health Profession?”, Davidoff

& Florance, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2000. 132(12):996-8

• Provide advanced information and knowledge services, usually in clinical or biomedical research

• May have clinical or research skills in addition to information skills/background/training

• AKA Information Specialist in Context (ISIC)

Library Support for CT Research

• Surveys sent to library directors and/or department heads at CTSA institution libraries

• Distributed to librarians, informationists and other information professionals likely to work with clinical/translational researchers

• 69 participants – 90.8% work with CT researchers

Areas of Service

• Searching• PubMed Central/NIH Public Access • Institutional repository• Research/clinical data services• Bioinformatics support• Researcher networking

Searching (n=48)

None

IACUC

Assist w/Systematic Reviews

Assist w/Strategy Dev

Teach Critical Appraisal

Teach Searching

Expert/Critical Appraisal

General Lit Search

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

4.2

14.6

35.4

79.2

35.4

85.4

47.9

83.3

NIH Public Access (n=46)Institutional Repository (n=42)

No IR

Submit to IR

IR Instruction

No NIH

Submit to PMC

NIH Instruction

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

54.8

23.8

40.5

32.6

26.1

65.2

Data (n=44)Bioinformatics (n=48)

No Bioinformatics

Compilations

Consultations

Instruction

No Data

Instruction

NSF/NIH Data Reqs

Manage/Curate

Policy Committee

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

39.60

29.20

47.90

54.20

54.50

13.60

36.40

9.10

20.50

Other Services?

• Data curation and management – 7X• Support collaboration – 4X• More bioinformatics support – 3X• Training in systematic reviews – 3X• Dedicated/embedded librarian for CTSA – 2X• Help researchers understand what we can do – 2X• Services related to community engagement• Knowledge transfer services• Work more closely with IRB• Comprehensive information literacy course

Affiliations

CTSI affiliate(n=48)

Embedded (n=47)

Research team (n=48)

Networking/Team Dev (n=48)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

29.8

10.6

31.3

33.3

Co-authorship (n=48)

Never

Once

2 to 4

> 4

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

66.7

16.7

10.4

6.3

79.2

6.3

8.3

6.3

Today’s Speakers• Kristi L. Holmes, PhD, Bioinformaticist, Bernard Becker

Medical Library, Washington University School of Medicine

• Layne Johnson, PhD, Translational Science Information Specialist, Health Sciences Library and Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota

• Jennifer A. Lyon, MS, MLIS, AHIP, Clinical Research Librarian, Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida