The Use of Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) Software to Create a Database of Librarian-Mediated Literature Searches

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Data capture
• evidence-based librarianship
• expert literature searching
• mediated literature searching
• REDCap

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.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer A. Lyon

Jennifer A. Lyon, MS, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Clinical Research Librarian at University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries, P.O. Box 100206, Gainesville, FL 32610.

Rolando Garcia-Milian

Rolando Garcia-Milian, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) completed this article while he was Basic Biomedical Sciences Librarian at University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries; he is now Biomedical Sciences Research Support Librarian at Yale University Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, P.O. Box 20801, New Haven, CT 06520.

Hannah F. Norton

Hannah F. Norton, MSIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Reference and Liaison Librarian at University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries, P.O. Box 100206, Gainesville, FL 32610.

Michele R. Tennant

Michele R. Tennant, PhD, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Assistant Director, University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries, P.O. Box 100206, Gainesville, FL 32610-0206 and Bioinformatics Librarian, University of Florida Genetics Institute, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610.