The Medical Library Association Guide to Managing Health Care Libraries. Second edition

Abstract

The second edition of the Medical Library Association Guide to Managing Health Care Libraries comes ten years after the publication of the first edition, a time in which much has changed in health care librarianship. The authors clearly state in the text how the current edition differs from the previous edition. The new edition contains expanded information about new roles in health care libraries, including chapters on information practice and knowledge services. The new edition has been thoughtfully updated to reflect the changes in the profession since the previous edition. The authors outline some significant changes in the profession, and thus the text includes health literacy, quality and patient safety, evidence-based health care and comparative effectiveness research, translational research, and technology. The book is well organized and very user friendly. The information is timely and relevant to anyone working in a health care library setting. Sixteen chapters are divided into three sections. Part one covers an introduction to libraries in health care settings and an overview of the health care environment. Part two covers topics in management, financial management, human resources management, evaluation and improvement management, collection planning management, collection technical management, and library space management. Part three covers on-site and web-based information services, educational services, information practice, knowledge services, health information for patients and consumers, associated services, and solo librarians. A CD-ROM is included with the book and contains resources that complement the work by featurfing live links to various websites and Internet resources. In addition, the CD-ROM contains the bibliography for each chapter with clickable links to the resources. For some chapters, subjects are covered in more detail with additional resources contained on the CD-ROM. For example, the chapter on evaluation and improvement management outlines five methods of evaluation for health care libraries. The chapter gives a brief overview of each method, and each method is covered in more detail in the CD-ROM. This aspect of the book is very helpful, as it allows for more in-depth reading and research when needed. This book provides a valuable resource for both library school students and practicing librarians. It is particularly useful as a source of references. The book includes helpful charts and checklists along with suggestions for more in-depth reading on various topics. For example, the chapter on collection technical management gives a comprehensive overview, but the authors realize that some topics, such as the details involved in selecting an integrated library system, are beyond the scope of the text, and they direct readers to a variety of sources for further reading on the subject. Particularly useful features of the text are the “Management in Action” sections. Throughout the book, these sections elaborate on specific topics in the form of mini case studies that put the information into a practical context. Overall the authors have updated the text to reflect numerous changes in the profession in the ten years since the publication of the original. While the scope of the text is broad, the authors have done an excellent job of providing an adequate, but not overwhelming, amount of information about each subject. Particularly helpful is the CD-ROM and the authors' suggestions for further reading on various topics. This is an essential text for any health care library.