An analysis of ALA‐accredited MLS curricula indicates deficiencies in the initial training provided for public librarians.

Background: Public librarians often address patron inquiries regarding health concerns. However, prior research indicates that public librarians may be unprepared to meet the health information requests of patrons. Objective: This study examined the availability of health‐themed courses in American...

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Publicado en:Health Information & Libraries Journal Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 268 - 284
Autores principales: Pandolfelli, Gabriella, Koos, Jessica A., Benz Scott, Lisa
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Sep2022
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Health Information & Libraries Journal
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      dt: Sep2022
      vid: 39
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        10.1111/hir.12443
        159294657
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        atl: An analysis of ALA‐accredited MLS curricula indicates deficiencies in the initial training provided for public librarians.
      aug:
        au:
          Pandolfelli, Gabriella
          Koos, Jessica A.
          Benz Scott, Lisa
        affil: Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook New York,, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Libraries, Public
          Medical Library Association
          Health Information
          Accreditation
          Course Content
          Librarianship Education
          Consumer Health Information
          Information Needs
          Librarians Education
          Descriptive Research
          Bivariate Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          Descriptive Statistics
          Mann-Whitney U Test
          Health Informatics
          Chi Square Test
          Human
      ab: Background: Public librarians often address patron inquiries regarding health concerns. However, prior research indicates that public librarians may be unprepared to meet the health information requests of patrons. Objective: This study examined the availability of health‐themed courses in American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master of Library and Information Studies/Science (MLIS) programs. Methods: Accredited MLIS programs were identified using the ALA directory. Curricula were reviewed for health content and public librarianship, children's, and young adult concentrations. Descriptive and bivariate analyses assessed the percent of programs that offered various health‐related course content and the differences in availability of such content. Results: Of the 59 accredited MLIS programs, only 35 (59.32%) listed at least one health elective and none listed a required health course. No MLIS programs that had a public library concentration (n = 21) listed a required or elective health course, two programs with a children's concentration (n = 25) listed health course electives, and one program with a young adult concentration (n = 25) listed a health course elective. Conclusion: ALA‐accredited MLIS programs should consider increasing their offerings or requiring health‐related courses to improve the training of public librarians to meet the health information needs of communities.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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