Health Career: Health Sciences Librarian
Who are health sciences librarians and what do they do?
Health sciences librarians are experts at finding medical information. They manage large amounts of information in the form of books, journals, tapes and multimedia presentations. They help medical professionals, students and patients sort through this information to find answers to their health-related questions.
How do health sciences librarians typically spend their workday?
As a health sciences librarian, you will generally work in a hospital, pharmaceutical company, research center, private business, or in the library of a health organization. Or you may work in a University’s school of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or allied health. On a typical workday, you may research health issues, order new materials and catalogue new library materials. You will also help library visitors learn how to use library resources to find the information they need. For example, you may assist a medical student with finding the information he or she needs to write a research paper on diseases. You may also answer mail and telephone requests for information and help manage the library budget and operations. If you work in a hospital, you may be in charge of bringing books to patients and organizing educational programs.
What does it take to be a good health sciences librarian?
Do you like trying to find the answers to challenging questions? Do you want to work with others and help them learn about health issues? Then being a health sciences librarian may be the job for you. You should enjoy both working alone and with others. You should also be curious, patient, have a good memory and like working with computers.
What are some health-related jobs that are similar to that of a health sciences librarian?
Health educator, health services administrator, health writer/editor.
Related links and more information:
- UIowa: Medical/Health Sciences Libraries on the Web
- Medical Library Association
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
