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Abstract
Hospital Institutional Review Boards are an integral part of the institution's infrastructure. By federal law, any research that involves human subjects is required to seek IRB approval before the research can proceed. Being a member of the institution's IRB affords the hospital librarian with a unique opportunity to have a pivotal role in the multiple facets of the research process. This article reviews the history behind the need for Institutional Review Boards, the role they play at hospitals and how librarians at their institutions can increase their services' visibility and value by being a member on the IRB.