HSL Newsletter

This article was written by Elaine Attridge, and edited by Kimberley R. Barker.

As a clinical librarian, the changes I have made to successfully work from home have been quite easy for me! I work predominantly with clinicians whose schedules are not the typical Monday - Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; to be as accommodating as possible, I have never required the people I work with to meet with me physically. This would have been a barrier for clinicians even before COVID-19!

Over the years, I have developed ways to interact electronically that enhance communication and make it easier for all involved. These methods include asking questions to clarify a patron's request, using screen capture/video capture tools to educate, and utilizing technology like video conferencing tools. I have also become very flexible with my work hours. I am used to checking email for requests and updates from the people I work with during off-hours, particularly when I am involved in a project that is time -sensitive.

Working from home during the pandemic has its advantages, particularly with regard to my commute time: simply roll out of bed! But I have been challenged at times trying to balance work with my family's needs. My husband has continued to work outside of the home which has left me to support our three children's educational needs. It seems like we all need to be on Zoom at the exact same time! Things got better when we started creating a schedule for the following day.

The only other downside is that I have missed seeing my colleagues in-person!

This article was written by Kate Joshua, and edited by Kimberley R. Barker.

I recently cut my own hair. I have six liters of homemade tomato sauce in my freezer. I sweep my front porch like a maniac. I’ve rearranged the furniture in my house six times, and I finished my 2020 reading challenge six weeks ago.I think it’s safe to say that my personal life, like yours, has changed amidst this pandemic.

However, my job as a medical librarian… well, it’s pretty much the same. Did you know that your liaisons worked from home while the Library was physically closed? And now, with the Library open for limited hours and with limited staff on-site, we are still working from home! In between crushing tomatoes and reading up on why my couch shouldn’t face West, I’m still working to find the information that clinicians need to do their jobs. I’ve been working on several review article teams, keeping up with search requests, and teaching remote sessions on EBP vs. QI; how to search the literature; and basic critical appraisal.

Whether you need help with a literature search for a review manuscript, or you’re trying to determine if writing a case report is feasible, we’ve got you covered. We’re happy to help you find journals suitable for your papers, share tips/tricks for searching, help you navigate QI projects, commiserate on the annoying aspects of APA and AMA citation styles, and basically any other information need that you may have. In fact, working remotely allows us greater flexibility to meet you where you are. For instance:

• Are you on a unit, but want to discuss an upcoming project? Let’s meet on Zoom.
• Do you only have a few minutes to ask a question? Use the Ask Us form, and we can work on answering your question while you continue to care for patients.

While many things have changed for all of us, our ability and willingness to serve patrons hasn’t: we’re still here for you. Reach out!