Abstract
ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to benchmark roles that veterinary librarians at universities and colleges play in systematic reviews (SRs) and scoping reviews that are conducted by faculty and students at their institutions, to benchmark the level of training that veterinary librarians have in conducting SRs, to identify barriers to their participation in SRs, and to identify other types of literature reviews that veterinary librarians participate in.MethodsSixty veterinary librarians in universities and colleges in Canada, the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand were surveyed online about their roles and training in conducting SRs, barriers to participation in SRs, and participation in other types of literature reviews.ResultsVeterinary librarians’ highest participation was at an advising level in traditional librarian roles as question formulator, database selector, search strategy developer, and reference manager. Most respondents reported pretty good to extensive training in traditional roles and no or some training in less traditional roles. Sixty percent of respondents received few or no requests to participate in SRs, and only half of respondents had participated in SRs as a review team member. Sixty percent of respondents stated that their libraries had no policies regarding librarian roles and participation in SRs.ConclusionsThe surveyed veterinary librarians participated in SRs to a lesser degree than human health sciences librarians, experienced low demand from veterinary faculty and students to participate in SRs, and participated as review team members at significantly lower rates than human health sciences librarians. The main barriers to participation in SRs were lack of library policies, insufficient training, and lack of time.
Highlights
Well-conducted systematic reviews (SRs) and scoping reviews are types of research knowledge syntheses that are important resources for supporting evidence-based veterinary practice and identifying gaps in the veterinary literature where additional research is needed [1]
Veterinary librarians reported the highest levels of participation in the traditional librarian roles of question formulator, database selector, search strategy developer, and reference manager, and much lower levels of participation in nontraditional roles
Half of veterinary librarians reported that they had participated as a review team member during the past 3 years as question formulator (n=12), database selector (n=13), search strategy developer (n=13), or reference manager (n=10)
Summary
Well-conducted systematic reviews (SRs) and scoping reviews are types of research knowledge syntheses that are important resources for supporting evidence-based veterinary practice and identifying gaps in the veterinary literature where additional research is needed [1]. In 2003, Beverley et al identified ten roles for librarians in the SR process, including project leader, project manager, literature searcher, reference manager, document supplier, critical appraiser, data extractor, data synthesizer, report writer, and disseminator [8]. Murphy and Boden surveyed Canadian academic health sciences librarians about their participation in SRs, expanding beyond the literature searcher role that Beverley identified to include question formulator, database selector, and search strategy developer, and adding three levels of participation: adviser, formal teacher, and review team member. In a 2016 literature review that mapped out potential functions for librarians in scoping reviews, Morris et al recommended that librarians could best contribute in the same roles that Beverley et al and Murphy and Boden identified: question formulator, search strategy developer, reference manager, and report writer [10]
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