2024-06-14 –, Charleswood B
Language: English
Introduction: Requests for support regarding knowledge syntheses (KS) have steadily increased and expanded beyond health disciplines. The objective of this CARL quality improvement project was to support professional development (PD) planning through understanding the needs of Canadian library workers interested in KS, regardless of discipline.
Methods: This cross-sectional study used online bilingual surveys open to all Canadian library workers to collect baseline data about KS support and PD needs. Twenty questions were organized into four sections: 1) role at library and with KS support; 2) levels and types of KS services; 3) PD training needs and preferences; and 4) additional desired resources and supports.
Results: 137 library workers responded (101 English and 36 French). Respondents had liaison and KS responsibilities with all listed disciplines, with approximately half working in health. Most respondents provide consultant support and mainly cover aspects related to searching and managing citations, but many also collaborate on and teach KS and cover other steps of the review process. Respondents preferred opportunities to learn about KS through structured PD, although the majority had previously built knowledge through self-directed readings and webinars. Respondents desired more time and human resources and PD on review methodologies and automation tools.
Discussion: KS support in Canadian academic libraries is varied and expanding beyond health. Health librarians report supporting multiple disciplines, suggesting cross-over that can help build capacity into other areas through workshops and other PD. The results of this survey provide insights to guide development of KS support and capacity within and beyond health libraries.
Robin Parker, MLIS PhD candidate, works at the WK Kellogg Health Sciences Library as a liaison librarian for Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, and supports learners, faculty, and staff in undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate Medicine programs. She also supports students and researchers across Dalhousie with evidence synthesis projects and is cross-appointed as an adjunct research associate with CHE. Currently an Interdisciplinary PhD candidate finishing her dissertation, Robin’s research explores academic health librarians’ contributions to teaching systematic review and other evidence synthesis methods. Robin lives in Kespukwitk, a district of Mi'kma'ki along the Bay of Fundy. She is grateful to live in the rural community where she was born on the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people. In consideration of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship signed in Mi’kma’ki and our collective continual efforts to decolonize and seek reconciliation for the harms of our educational and health systems, Robin is committed to learning about Indigenous ways of knowing and research methodologies. She encourages researchers to incorporate disparate voices and types of knowledge into evidence syntheses and to include those impacted by the issues we research in the entire research process.
Monique Clar is a HS knowledge synthesis librarian at Université de Montréal. She was previously a medical librarian. She is a JBI certified reviewer.
Neera Bhatnagar, BSc, MLIS, is the Head of Public Services & Systems, Coordinator of Research Support at the Health Sciences Library, McMaster University. In addition to being a senior manager in the library, she is an expert searcher and is actively involved with research teams working on systematic reviews, practice guidelines and other complex topics. Other interests include open access publishing, evidence-based practice in healthcare and exploring the use of AI technologies.