Abstract

Although thematic analysis of health librarianship (HL) presentations at conferences in the USA exists, no similar research has been reported focused on HL at UK conferences. To determine trends in HL conference presentations from 2017 to 2022 at three UK-based HL conferences and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) conferences. Thematic analysis of conference programmes obtained from websites, the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and conference organisers. A total of 226 HL-related conference presentations were identified across all the examined conference programmes. Eight themes emerged: being a Healthcare Librarian; Digital Working; Finding the Evidence; Generating Research; Strategic Library Management; Literacies; Other; and Using the Evidence. 'Being a Healthcare Librarian' (n = 54) and 'Strategic Library Management' (n = 53) were the most prominent cross-conference themes. Presentations at HL-specific conferences provide a wider range of themes than CILIP conferences, with 'Being a Healthcare Librarian' absent from CILIP conferences but 'Literacies' appearing in similar numbers at both. Differences in conference formats and the COVID-19 pandemic likely influenced presentation numbers. HL conference themes are not directly reflected in CILIP conferences. NHS Knowledge and Library Services staff should be encouraged to undertake and disseminate original research, creating a UK evidence base for healthcare librarianship.

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