Objectives: To conduct a systematic assessment of services and staffing practices within academic libraries serving College of Osteopathic Medicine programs. To provide a description of core library services, detect trends in new services being offered, justify the need for additional services and staffing, and assist leadership within developing medical schools in planning for their future academic health sciences libraries.
Methods: Mixed methods study pursued through three phases. The first phase involved the identification of osteopathic medical schools and the contact information for the library directors, via publicly-facing websites. Phase two consisted of a review of the literature and survey of library directors of academic libraries serving college of osteopathic medicine programs. Additional questions developed for library leaders through phone interviews, which comprised the third phase of the study.
Results: There were a total of 35 COM libraries identified. While many of the COM library websites were easy to locate and provided useful information, some were hard to find and lacking in detail. In Phase Two of the study, 30/35 surveys were returned, the data is being analyzed, and details regarding the services and staffing will be provided. In Phase Three, in-depth questions were asked, and a summary of the results will be provided.
Conclusions: This study provides a comparison of services and staffing within academic libraries serving College of Osteopathic Medical programs. Library leaders, not only those affiliated with new medical schools, but also those affiliated with long-standing, and more traditional schools, can use this data to make a case for new resources, services, or staffing. In addition, medical school administrators may find opportunities in this study’s results for more productive collaborations with the library, in areas such as curriculum-integrated instruction, research development, and scholarly publishing. Finally, leaders within developing schools will become better informed about current library services being provided, and staffing trends, in order to plan for an appropriate budget and staffing for their future health sciences libraries.
