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Director's Reflections....Library of the FutureAs you pass through the doors of an HSLS library, or when you access an electronic journal via HSL Online, have you ever paused to marvel at the tremendous changes that have occurred in libraries in the past 20 years? The wooden card catalog has disappeared, the printed Index Medicus has evolved into the MEDLINE database, and you have online access to a good portion of the world’s medical literature while you sit comfortably at home. Have you wondered what medical libraries may look like in the future? Donald Lindberg, Director of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), and Betsy Humphreys, NLM Deputy Director, offer a thoughtful vision in their recently published New England Journal of Medicine article, titled "2015—The Future of Medical Libraries." 1 Their scenarios are based on services and technology that already exist in some form. They envision clinicians, patients, educators, and students with ready access to information from anywhere. Through standards-compliant electronic health records, software will match relevant knowledge-based information to the diagnosis of individual patients. Lindberg and Humphreys foresee libraries managing access to multimedia digital libraries interconnecting genetics research data, aggregated clinical and public health data, publications, and clinical trials. Librarians (yes, they still exist and are busier than ever) will select, organize, analyze, and link information resources assisted by advanced software systems. They continue as teachers and pathfinders to help users find their way through the information maze. HSLS recently completed its own five-year plan for the years 2005 to 2010 that envisions how the library system can continue to provide innovative information resources and services in support of the varied activities of the University’s health sciences community and the UPMC. Seven goals for HSLS are outlined in this document: Acquire knowledge-based information resources in appropriate formats to meet the needs of the health sciences community
Provide effective access to local and remote information to meet the needs of a diverse user community
Develop effective strategies to enhance information literacy and use of information resources
Promote awareness of library services, resources and expertise to a large, diverse, and geographically dispersed user population
Nurture and extend partnerships and collaboration with internal and external departments, schools, programs, and organizations
Cultivate an environment of learning for librarians and staff that encourages ongoing assessment and evaluation, application of best practices, creativity, innovation, and growth. Capitalize on new opportunities and challenges as they arise
Redefine space to best accommodate the delivery and storage of information resources and services A summary of the HSLS Long Range Plan is available on the HSLS Web page at www.hsls.pitt.edu/about/exec_summary.pdf. To read the Lindberg article, access the March 17, 2005 issue of New England Journal of Medicine through the HSLS Resources page at www.hsls.pitt.edu/resources. --Barbara Epstein 1 Lindberg DAB, Humphreys BL. 2015—The future of medical libraries. N Engl J Med. 2005 Mar 17;352(11): 1067-70 |
