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Using standards to make your case: examples from the medical library community

Using standards to make your case: examples from the medical library community Purpose – The paper seeks to discuss how medical librarians have used library standards, especially benchmark data, in advocating for the medical library and medical librarian to their communities, institutions, and other groups and the Medical Library Association's role in supporting these advocacy efforts. Design/methodology/approach – Broad definitions of standards and benchmarking are cited from the literature and short case studies from medical librarianship are described on how both standards and benchmarking have been used to advocate for increased staff and budgets for medical libraries. Tips for using these tools are also included. Findings – The case studies illustrate that more work should be done by all library associations in promoting the use of standards, including benchmarking, as an important tool for helping their members advocate for the value of libraries and librarians in helping institutions and organizations outside of the library achieve their missions and goals. Research limitations/implications – The case studies included are anecdotal in nature and are not to be considered research. Originality/value – The paper highlights how medical librarians should encourage the development and use of standards to not only measure and improve the quality of library programs and services internally, but also externally to promote the value of the library/librarian to the community, institution, or corporation, and thereby gain needed additional resources to serve target populations. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png New Library World Emerald Publishing

Using standards to make your case: examples from the medical library community

Carla J. Funk
New Library World , Volume 109 (5/6): 7 – May 16, 2008
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7 pages

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
0307-4803
DOI
10.1108/03074800810873597
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – The paper seeks to discuss how medical librarians have used library standards, especially benchmark data, in advocating for the medical library and medical librarian to their communities, institutions, and other groups and the Medical Library Association's role in supporting these advocacy efforts. Design/methodology/approach – Broad definitions of standards and benchmarking are cited from the literature and short case studies from medical librarianship are described on how both standards and benchmarking have been used to advocate for increased staff and budgets for medical libraries. Tips for using these tools are also included. Findings – The case studies illustrate that more work should be done by all library associations in promoting the use of standards, including benchmarking, as an important tool for helping their members advocate for the value of libraries and librarians in helping institutions and organizations outside of the library achieve their missions and goals. Research limitations/implications – The case studies included are anecdotal in nature and are not to be considered research. Originality/value – The paper highlights how medical librarians should encourage the development and use of standards to not only measure and improve the quality of library programs and services internally, but also externally to promote the value of the library/librarian to the community, institution, or corporation, and thereby gain needed additional resources to serve target populations.

Journal

New Library World – Emerald Publishing

Published: May 16, 2008

Keywords: Standards; Benchmarking; Medical libraries; Hospitals; United States of America

References

  • Professional tips
    American Library Association
  • LIBQUAL+™
    Association of Research Libraries
  • It's not an urban legend: medical librarians' success stories with MLA benchmarking data
    Chastain‐Warheit, C.
  • Research vignette
    Cowen, J.
  • Benchmarking basics for librarians
    Gohlke, A.
  • It's not an urban legend: medical librarians' success stories with MLA benchmarking data
    Klein, D.
  • Striving for excellence
    Maine Public Library Standards
  • Benchmarking network
    Medical Library Association
  • Standards for hospital libraries 2002 with 2004 revisions
    Medical Library Association/Hospital Libraries Section
  • Cover letter for Maine Public Library Standards 2007
    Nichols, J.G.