Contributed Paper Abstract
Creating One World through Mentoring: Structuring the Basics for Entry Level Health Sciences Librarians
Martha Earl, Reference Coordinator, and Doris Prichard, Director, Preston Medical Library, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN.
Purpose: This paper describes a training program for new medical librarians, library school practicum students, and interns. Campus and community librarians partner to provide information access and management training.
Setting/Participants/Resources: The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Preston Medical Library, serves UT faculty, residents, staff, students, area health professionals, and consumers. Closely associated with UT Knoxville campus libraries and the UT School of Information Sciences, UTMC staff regularly train SIS practicum students and lecture for SIS courses. Librarians also serve as leaders in local and state associations, providing orientation for area librarians new to medical librarianship. UTMC’s four librarians are involved in both cutting edge technologies and traditional services. The Library holds 440 journals with 150 e-titles; a shared catalog with UTK; more than 3000 books and audiovisuals; full-text e-resources; and seventeen workstations. Trainees are provided with a variety of experiences in a structured learning environment.
Brief Description: The mentoring program in core areas of health librarianship includes reference, instruction, collection development, access services, web development, online searching, administration, marketing, research, and service to community and profession. Trainees are also encouraged in skills development related to personal strengths and goals.
Results/Outcome: Practicum students have made connections that resulted in successful job searches, several in medical librarianship. New hospital librarians continue to consult with UTMC librarians to enhance connections, collaboration, and research participation.
Evaluation Method: Each UTMC librarian participates in providing regular formal and informal feedback to the trainees. Trainees write self-evaluations and report to UTMC or UTK mentors. New hospital librarians report progress toward goals.
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