(via Pamela Bagley, Dartmouth College)
The COVID-19 pandemic sowed chaos in early 2020 as libraries scrambled to shut down physical operations on short notice and quickly pivot to electronic resources and virtual services. As closures stretch on or limited re-openings have demanded new ways of viewing physical spaces, the timing is ideal to reflect on what has worked in the provision of virtual services, what needs to be assessed and improved, and how to incorporate sustainable virtual services into the new normal of the health sciences library.
This topic is the basis of a new book to be published by the Medical Library Association and Rowman & Littlefield in late 2021, Virtual Services in the Health Sciences Library. The editor welcomes chapter proposals from health sciences librarians, staff, and administrators on topics related to the provision of virtual services in the health sciences library and the development of best practices. The book will be divided into four sections on information and access services, research and instruction, collection development and access, and clinical services and support. Suggested chapter topics include, but are not limited to, the following.
- tools and policies for organizing and providing virtual services
- marketing and communication
- virtual reference and outreach
- hybrid and online instruction methods (asynchronous and synchronous)
- accessibility of electronic content
- electronic resource availability (open access, licensing, copyright considerations)
- access to/teaching with specialized and archival collections
- virtual rounding or other clinical services
- resources or methods for teaching clinical skills and interactions
Please submit a 500 – 1,000 word overview of your proposed chapter and the CVs/resumes of all contributing authors via e-mail to Amanda.R.Scull@dartmouth.edu. Proposals are due by Sunday, January 31, and selected authors will be notified by March 1st. First drafts of accepted chapters will be due Thursday, July 1.