Virtual Services in the Health Sciences Library: A Handbook

Virtual services in health sciences libraries have been around for a while, but the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted their importance and made them more visible. This book provides blueprints and best practices for building and maintaining sustainable virtual services, covering aspects of information and access services, reference and instruction, collections, and clinical services. It is useful for librarians at all levels and in all types of libraries, whether they are just beginning an implementation, assessing and refining current offerings, or strategizing for sustainability and looking to the future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Selected as a 2025 Doodys Core Title, Virtual services have been an integral part of health sciences libraries for many years, offering a range of services such as reference and research assistance, online instruction, access to electronic materials, and the creation of virtual research guides. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a significant shift in the provision of these services, with many libraries forced to close their doors and transition to virtual services almost overnight. This experience has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of virtual services and has made patrons more aware of the available resources. In some ways, the pandemic has shown that virtual services can be even better than in-person services for providing prompt patron services. The increased visibility of existing services has made users more aware of what is available, while also revealing gaps and needed improvements in virtual services. In this book, copublished by the Medical Library Association, librarians from academic to hospital health sciences libraries, from rural to urban areas, and across a range of service specialties provide blueprints and best practices for building and maintaining sustainable virtual services in health sciences libraries. Each chapter in this volume addresses aspects of providing virtual services in information and access services, reference and instruction, collections, and clinical services, written by contributors who have been involved in this work in their own libraries. Whether you are just beginning an implementation, assessing and refining current offerings, or strategizing for sustainability and looking to the future, this book will provide valuable insights and guidance.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 254 x 177 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538155431