Librarians Building Innovative Technologies: Creating It Ourselves

As library users increasingly rely on mobile applications and responsive websites to access information, it has become imperative that libraries accommodate these needs. The tasks of building this type of resource may seem too expensive, time-consuming, and require the outsourcing of technology development. The presenters will showcase how this can be achieved on a small scale using existing staff, innovative funding resources, and affordable training. The poster will outline the presenters’ experiences designing a conceptual discovery framework, interactive website, and iOS application for health sciences students. More specifically, our app will address training students to answer clinical queries using library resources that support evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to clinical decision-making, where medical practitioners use clinical evidence from current research to decide the best course of treatment. EBP is an essential concept in medical education, and medical librarians play an instrumental role in training students to answer clinical questions. Although, this project focuses on clinical education, the concepts surrounding staffing, funding, and training can be overcome by all library specialties.