Synthesizing Services: Sharing and Comparing Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis Services in Academic Libraries

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM CT

Location: 354

Presenter and Author(s)

C. Cozette Comer

Evidence Synthesis Coordinator
Research Collaboration and Engagement at the University Libraries at Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Slides

Author(s)

Jenessa M. McElfresh, AHIP

Systematic Review Service Coordinator / Senior RLS Librarian / Associate Professor
UTHSC Health Sciences Library / Research & Learning Services
Memphis, Tennessee
Emily Brennan, MLIS

Research and Education Informationist
Medical University of South Carolina Library
Charleston, South Carolina
MD

Michelle Demetres

Scholarly Communications Librarian; Systematic Review Service Coordinator
Samuel J. Wood Library, Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, New York
AJ

Anna Liss Jacobsen, MA, MLS

Medicine & Research Services Librarian
University of Washington, Health Sciences Library
Teresa E. Jewell, AHIP

Senior Assistant Librarian, Team Science & Research Services
University of Washington Health Sciences Library
Seattle, Washington
PM

Patti McCall-Wright, MA, MLS

Systematic Review Librarian
Health Science Center Library
Gainesville, Florida
Laura Wright

Research Support Librarian- Systematic Reviews
Rudolph Matas Library of the Health Sciences, Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana

Background: This session seeks to compare the processes of developing and maintaining systematic review and evidence synthesis services in health sciences and academic libraries. The session will explore the similarities and differences among service models, documentation, staffing, and growth through the pre-recorded experiences of the librarians who coordinate these services. The session will include discussion of the creation of an open online repository of systematic review and evidence synthesis service narratives and supporting documents, as well as a summary of themes across narratives.

Description: Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis services help support the needs of researchers in complying with guidelines, conducting searches, and completing the robust documentation necessary for these reviews. The process of developing and implementing these library services can vary based on the needs and resources of the institution, and thus there is no prescriptive path to success for a fledgling systematic review or evidence synthesis service. This session presents themes related to the development, implementation, and revision of these services from interviews with multiple coordinators and service providers conducted prior to the conference. The session also includes rationale and overview of a multi-institutional online open repository for service documentation (e.g., policies, forms, patron agreements) and audience Q&A.

Conclusion: The success and impact of systematic review and evidence synthesis services can be measured in many ways, including the number of users assisted, number of completed reviews, number of published reviews, and even in the successful launch of the service itself. Recorded narratives of librarians who work with systematic review and evidence synthesis services at their institutions will share how they identify and evaluate the outcomes identified to measure the success of their services. Session attendees will become familiar with approaches to developing these types of services, assessment techniques, and how outcomes can enhance the services at their institutions, in addition to access to the online repository of systematic review and evidence synthesis documentation.