Browsing by Author "Rethlefsen, Melissa L."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Except for my commute, everything is the same: the shared lived experience of health sciences libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic
    (Medical Library Association, 2022) Ragon, Bart; Whipple, Elizabeth C.; Rethlefsen, Melissa L.; Ruth Lilly Medical Library, School of Medicine
    Objective: To understand the experience of academic health sciences libraries during the pandemic using a phenomenological approach. Methods: This study used a multisite, mixed-method approach to capture the direct experience of academic health sciences libraries as they evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase one of the study involved administering a qualitative survey to capture to capture current evolutions of programs and services. The survey for phases two (August 2020) and three (February 2021) contained eight questions asking participants to share updates on their evolution and experiences. Results: Qualitative data were analyzed using open coding techniques to ensure emergent themes were allowed to surface. Additional post-hoc sentiment analysis ascertained the frequency of positive and negative words in each data set. Of the 193 possible AAHSL libraries, 45 (23.3%) responded to the April 2020 survey, 26 to the August 2020 survey, and 16 to the February 2021 survey. Libraries represented 23 states and the District of Columbia. The majority of libraries closed in March 2020. The ease of transferring library services to a remote environment varied by type of service. For the quantitative analysis, ten distinct areas were analyzed using text coded as “Staff” as a lens for understanding the connection between codes. Conclusion: Innovations by libraries during the early stages of the pandemic are having a long-term impact on library culture and the delivery of services. Even as libraries returned to in-person services, elements of telecommuting, using online conferencing software, safety precautions, and monitoring of staff well-being persisted.
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    Impact of COVID-19 on academic health sciences library programs and Services.
    (2021-05-24) Ragon, Bart; Whipple, Elizabeth C.; Rethlefsen, Melissa L.
    OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the programs and services provided by Academic Health Sciences Libraries and to identify best practices for responding to future events. METHODS: This multi-site qualitative study captured the evolution of Academic Health Sciences Libraries during the pandemic. Surveys were administered in May 2020, August 2020, and February 2021 to gather data on the current state of library programs and services using a phenomenological approach. RESULTS: May 2020 and August 2020 data illustrate the transition of libraries during the early stages of the pandemic. In May 2020, library leaders were energized as they focused on the transition to remote services and well-being of staff. By August 2020, library leaders seemed exhausted, maintaining much of their focus on internal communication and well-being, but also working through the challenges of budget reductions and planning for reopening spaces.
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    Impact of Covid-19 on Academic Health Sciences Library Programs and Services: Lessons Learned
    (2022-03-17) Whipple, Elizabeth C.; Ragon, Bart; Rethlefsen, Melissa L.
    Our research team conducted longitudinal surveys of academic health sciences library leaders to record the impact of COVID-19 on their library programs and services over time: April 2020, August 2020, and February 2021. Our multi-modal analysis highlights lessons learned in the context of new service models, new opportunities, skills needed, wellness as an integral necessity, and policy considerations for libraries. Overwhelmingly, libraries were successful in providing many services remotely and will continue in some variation thereof. Libraries also experimented with new configurations of space, staffing models, and reduced hours. New opportunities abounded to demonstrate the expertise of our profession: educational expertise and course development to support medical education; collaboration with institutional and external partners for COVID-19 information gathering, analysis, and dissemination; remote learning support; and library space upgrades or space utilization by external groups for COVID-19 support. Flexibility, agility, adaptability, and resiliency were repeatedly mentioned as skills needed to both support one another and to provide continuity of services. The needs related to wellness morphed over time, as many libraries were initially in “support” mode for their staff and navigating ways to connect with one another, both personally and professionally; later on, wellness concerns underscored anxiety over returning to work. Additionally, some libraries consciously began discussions regarding equity, both around acknowledging financial disparities among staff, and the inequity in current library staffing structures. As libraries moved out of acute crisis mode, many recognized the need for better policies around topics such as remote work, technology needs, and disaster preparedness.
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    Supplemental Materials for The Shared Lived Experience of Health Sciences Libraries During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    (2022-01) Ragon, Bart; Whipple, Elizabeth C.; Rethlefsen, Melissa L.
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    The role of information science within the clinical translational science ecosystem
    (Cambridge University Press, 2024-11-27) Ragon, Bart; Seymour, Anne; Whipple, Elizabeth C.; Surkis, Alisa; Haberstroh, Amanda; Muilenburg, Jennifer; Rethlefsen, Melissa L.; Aspinall, Erinn E.; Deaver, Jill; Dexter, Nadine; Barger, Renae; Contaxis, Nicole; Glenn, Emily J.; Hinton, Elizabeth; Kern, Barbara; Little, Micquel; Pickett, Keith; Sevetson, Erika; Tao, Donghua; von Isenburg, Megan; Werner, Debra A.; Wheeler, Terrie R.; Holmes, Kristi; Ruth Lilly Medical Library, School of Medicine
    Academic health sciences libraries ("libraries") offer services that span the entire research lifecycle, positioning them as natural partners in advancing clinical and translational science. Many libraries enjoy active and productive collaborations with Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program hubs and other translational initiatives like the IDeA Clinical & Translational Research Network. This article explores areas of potential partnership between libraries and Translational Science Hubs (TSH), highlighting areas where libraries can support the CTSA Program's five functional areas outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. It serves as a primer for TSH and libraries to explore potential collaborations, demonstrating how libraries can connect researchers to services and resources that support the information needs of TSH.