Abstract
Expert-mediated literature searching, a keystone service in biomedical librarianship, would benefit significantly from regular methodical review. This article describes the novel use of Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) software to create a database of literature searches conducted at a large academic health sciences library. An archive of paper search requests was entered into REDCap, and librarians now prospectively enter records for current searches. Having search data readily available allows librarians to reuse search strategies and track their workload. In aggregate, this data can help guide practice and determine priorities by identifying users’ needs, tracking librarian effort, and focusing librarians’ continuing education.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank our tireless student assistants, Lisbet Fernandez and Tracy Roth. We also appreciate the advice and encouragement provided by Doug Theriaque, Susan Meier, and Jane-Ann Norton of the UF CTSI REDCap Support Team.
Notes
This article is based on a poster presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, May 20, 2012.
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/wmrs.