Solo Census: Demographics, Duties, Needs And Challenges

ABSTRACT

A 13-question survey was launched to determine the number, duties and challenges of medical or health science librarians who worked alone or with limited staff or volunteers. Results from 383 responses illustrate the depth and breadth of the solo workforce, and highlight the challenges faced by this segment of the profession. By presenting these data, we hope to make the Medical Library Association, and the health science librarianship profession at large, more sensitive to the needs of this special group, and advocate for the vital services offered by these solo librarians.

KEYWORDS:

• Benchmarking
• demography
• health sciences librarians
• hospital libraries
• library surveys
• solo librarians