Hospital Libraries: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Hospital libraries have a long and storied history in the United States. Since the 1700 s, they have provided vital resources to the medical community. Over time, hospital libraries have evolved regarding staffing, resources, and access, yet their mission has remained the same—they are expected to provide the best possible medical information to support patient care. Hospital librarians need to appreciate the history of their profession and the services they have provided in the past in order to sustain the value of their contributions well into the future. Looking at the history, as well as the present state of hospital libraries, helps hospital librarians shape their future. Advocacy is vital in a time when hospitals stretch their budgets as far as possible, hospitals consolidate and hospital libraries close.

Keywords:

• Data management
• future
• hospital library
• history
• interlibrary loan
• literature search
• virtual service

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deborah J. Rhue

Deborah J. Rhue, MLIS ([email protected]) is a Lecturer III and Clinical Services Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.