Librarianship, 1940-1968

An Annotated Bibliography of Education for Medical Librarianship, 1940-1968 BY SHERRILYNNE SHIRLEY, Head Cataloging Department Anchorage Public Library Anchorage, Alaska ABSTRACT An attempt has been made in this bibliography to represent the various viewpoints concerning education for medical librarianship equally. The topics covered include: general background reading and readings for those interested in establishing courses in medical librarianship. The former includes annotations on the history and international aspects of the subject. The latter consists of annotations of articles on early courses and present courses in medical librarianship. A final area discussed is the Medical Library Association's Code for the Training and Certification of Medical Librarians. INTRODUCTION EDUCATION for medical librarianship has been a controversial topic for a number of years. In this annotated bibliography, an attempt has been made to represent the different viewpoints equally. With only one or two exceptions, no articles have been included which were written before 1940. There are three reasons for this. Firstly, little was actually being done with education for medical librarianship before this time. Secondly, this early period (before 1940) is well covered by the histories written from 1940 on. Thirdly, these early articles are of little importance except for historical purposes. This is not an exhaustive bibliography of everything written on education for medical librarianship since 1940. All the important references have, however, been included. Articles on training for sub-professionals have been excluded; this bibliography is concerned strictly with the education of the professional medical librarian. All the references are annotated. The annotations are a combination of the descriptive and informative type. The bibliography will be presented in outline form with several references listed for each of the topics. Where necessary, topics will be explained briefly. EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP I. General reading for those interested in education for medical librarianship. A. History of education for medical librarianship in the U. S. B. International aspects of education for medical librarianship. II. Readings for those interested in establishing courses in medical librarianship. A. Descriptions of early courses given in medical librarianship. B. Present courses. 1. Curricula and where courses are given. 2. Internships. 3. Continuing education. C. Medical Library Association Code for Training and Certification of Medical Librarians. GENERAL READING FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP. HISTORY OF EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP IN THE U. S. 1. KEEP, T. E. Medical librarianship: looking toward 1970. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 27: 208-12, March 1939. Describes the need for graduate schools for research and for the training of librarians. Suggests that they should be sponsored by the MLA and be a special school or department of one Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969 391

SHERRILYNNE SHIRLEY of the leading universities. Interesting in that it describes what the "state of the art" should be in 1970. 2. PURINGTON, ALICE M. Bibliography on standards-medical, hospital and nursing libraries and librarians, 1925-1945. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 72-8, Feb. 1946. An annotated bibliography containing a few articles on education for medical librarianship. It is included here because it covers the years not specifically covered by this bibliography. 3. MARSHALL, MARY LOUISE. Training for medical librarianship. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 34: 247-52, Oct. 1946. One of the classic articles in the field of education for medical librarianship. Three factors are given which lead to good medical librarianship: the first is recruitment of carefully selected and properly qualified personnel, the second is education, both general and professional, and the third is experience, preferably supervised experience as represented by internship in a medical library. 4. DOE, JANET. The development of education for medical librarianship. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 213-20, July 1949. Medical libraries for many years existed apart from ordinary libraries. The cause probably lies in the difference in the evolution of medical libraries and of general libraries. In medical libraries, the books existed first and then came the librarian. However, in general libraries, the librarian came first, and then a collection was organized. Gives an excellent description of the beginning and development of medical libraries and librarians. One of the first courses formulated for medical librarians at the University of Minnesota is discussed. This article gives a comprehensive history of medical librarianship up to 1949. 5. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Education for medical librarians in the U. S. Libri 3: 205-13, 1954. A detailed historical background is given. This is one of the most detailed histories of medical librarianship to be 392 found. International aspects of medical librarianship are treated briefly. 6. JORDAN, M. Events in the development of education for medical librarianship in the last decade. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 45: 351-60, July 1957. Gives a year-by-year account of the developments from 1946-1957. Lists courses in medical librarianship as they were given. INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP 7. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Education for medical librarians around the world. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 52: 99-116, Jan. 1964. The history of the training of librarians is given, including the three countries which most influenced development in other parts of the world- Great Britain, Germany and the United States. The present British and U. S. systems are treated in detail with less detail given for Germany. There is a discussion of American attempts to aid in educating medical librarians in other countries such as Latin America, Israel, Africa, and Asia. The efforts of organizations such as Unesco, Rockefeller Foundation and Eli Lilly Foundation are mentioned. 8. Unesco Bulletin for Libraries, v. 21, no. 6, Nov./Dec. 1967. Whole issue devoted to education and training of librarians in various countries-including Africa, Arabic-speaking countries, Europe, Latin America, and Russia. Some knowledge about education for medical librarianship in these countries can be gained by reading these articles. 9. SECONDI, JUAN CARLOS. Medical library education and regional seminars in Latin America. Libri 3: 238-49, 1954. Discussed in this article are library facilities, medical library practice, and the educational problem of medical librarians and library schools. Although it is out of date, there is a discussion of the various international organizations which have been active in Latin America. The author of the article suggests regional seminars as Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP the answer to problems in medical librarianship and gives a lengthy description of advantages and possibilities of such a program. 10. RUSSELL, M. P. Education and training of the medical librarian in Great Britain. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 52: 90-8, Jan. 1964. A short history of education and training for librarians in Great Britain is given. The author believes that inclusion of medical material in the examinations now given to prospective medical librarians will encourage library schools to provide appropriate instruction in this field, thus achieving a system much like that in the U. S. The medical section of the Library Association carries on continuing education for its members through the meetings held four times a year. 11. BISHOP, W. J. Education and training for medical librarianship in Great Britain. Libri 3: 232-7, 1954. The question of qualifications in medical librarianship is involved in the whole system of certification in Great Britain. A general overview of the system is given including the type of examination given for the degree and also the number of candidates who have attempted it. Two articles of general interest but not fitting into the above categories: 12. MARY BERNICE, SISTER. Need of professional training in preparation for the administration of a medical library. Catholic Libr. World 33: 556-7, May 1962. Attempts to distinguish between medical librarians and medical records librarians. Indicates that sometimes medical librarians are expected to take charge of medical records. What should be done to educate oneself in this area is discussed. 13. POSTELL, WILLIAM. Education for medical librarianship. Special Libr. 48: 186-8, May-June 1957. This article is good as a general summary which includes history, certification, and international aspects of training. READINGS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING COURSES IN MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP DESCRIPTIONS OF EARLY COURSES GIVEN IN MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP Articles already listed in the historical section also contain descriptions of early courses, although these are not detailed. 14. CUNNINGHAM, EILEEN. Library school undergraduate curriculum; can it be modified to meet the needs for training in medical librarianship? Special Libr. 31: 15-20, 1940. Discusses the arguments for and against offering specialized training for those interested in special librarianship, both from the library school's point of view and the student's point of view. Two tables of courses are given listing possible elective courses for a "Degree of Bachelor of Library Science Emphasizing Training in Special Librarianship." This article is mainly of historical interest, but it indicates that even twenty-eight years ago there was discussion about special education for special librarians. 15. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Education for medical librarians. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 221-30, July 1949. Discusses the course in medical librarianship offered at the School of Library Service at Columbia University. Her philosophy of medical education is given. This is quite important to the field because Dr. Brodman has been active in education for medical librarianship for many years. The curriculum of the school is given for 1948-1949, together with a short description of each of the courses. Class plans for the course in medical library administration are also given. This article serves as an excellent background to an early course for medical librarianship. 16. PLIEFKE, FRIDA. Medical library training at the University of Minnesota. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 231-4, July 1949. Discusses the course in hospital librarianship offered at the University of Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969 393

SHERRILYNNE SHIRLEY Minnesota, and specifically the course in medical reference. The article is mainly of historical interest. Little course detail is given. 17. KINGSLEY, JAMEs M. Training in medical librarianship at the University of Minnesota. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 235-37, July 1949. The follow-up to no. 16. Gives a little more detail on the medical reference course. As before, mainly of historical interest. 18. BRODMAN, ESTELLE, Chairman. Report of the Subcommittee on Curriculum. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 327-31, Oct. 1949. The report of the first year's work on curriculum since the establishment of the committee. The scope of the investigation of the committee was defined as what goals such education should have, and how it should go about attaining those goals. A questionnaire on the level of education for beginning medical librarians is described. The statistical analysis of the questionnaire indicates the level of education of medical librarians at this time and their realization that this education was not adequate. 19. MOHRHARDT, FOSTER. Medical library training courses conducted by the Veterans Administration. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 39: 177-81, July 1951. In 1949 the Veterans Administration arranged for intensive short-term courses in medicine and medical bibliography for its medical librarians throughout the U. S. The general plan for the course is given. This article is of interest because it indicates early interest by an agency of the federal government in the training of medical librarians. 20. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Teaching medical bibliography to medical librarians. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 40: 366-8, Oct. 1952. Gives the theoretical bases for teaching medical bibliography. On-the-job training is emphasized. 21. DISBROW, M. E. Impressions of the course in medical libraries at Emory University. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 41: 277-82, July 1953. 394 One of the few articles on courses in medical librarianship which has been written from the viewpoint of the student. Detailed information on course content and arrangement is given. 22. JORDAN, MILDRED. Report on two courses for medical librarianship sponsored by the Medical Library Association. Libri 3: 214-8. The first course discussed is one given at Columbia University and taught by Thomas Fleming in 1954. The second is a course taught by Mildred Jordan at Emory University in 1954. Both include detailed description of syllabi used and also other aspects of the courses such as field trips and guest lecturers. 23. SIMON, BEATRICE V. The training for medical, hospital and nursing librarians. Special Libr. 39: 71-76, March 1948. The author of this article feels that it is not the duty of the library school to give specialized training to special librarians. Rather after the completion of the basic library science courses an internship in a medical library should be taken. At the time this article was written, the author was in a very small minority with this point of view. However, this approach is now the accepted one. PRESENT COURSES. Curricula and where courses are given 24. COHAN, LEONARD, AND CRAVEN, KENNETH. Science Information Personnel. New York, Modern Language Association, 1961. Discusses the new profession of information combining science, librarianship and foreign languages. Subjects discussed in this publication include undergraduate education, graduate education, training, and professional support. 25. DARLING, LouISE. On education opportunities for librarians in the biomedical sciences. Catholic Libr. World 35: 176-80, Nov.-Dec. 1963, 243-6, Dec. 1963. Describes the courses given to acquaint librarians with the communication field, particularly information Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP retrieval. The Biological Sciences Communication Project of the American Institute of Biological Sciences and the program of the Institute for Advancement of Medical Communication are described as two ways of gaining specialized training in this particular area. Many other projects and programs are mentioned to indicate ways in which biomedical librarians can gain training in other areas. Examples include various internships and courses in medical librarianship. The course taught at UCLA is described in detail. 26. DARLING, LOUISE. Development of training programs in American medical libraries. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 51: 339-53, July 1963. Early programs are described briefly. The National Library of Medicine internship is described in some detail with the criticisms which have been made of it. The UCLA program is described in great detail. A comparison is made between the course at UCLA and that at Emory. Other programs presently being offered are mentioned. These include courses offered by the Veterans Administration, the New York Academy of Medicine, and Columbia University. 27. WOOTEN, E. B., AND EASTERLING, W. S. Pilot project in training for mental health librarianship. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 53: 239-244, Apr. 1965. In an effort to recruit and train competent personnel for its medical library, Central Louisiana State Hospital undertook a pilot project in the summer of 1964 in preprofessional training in mental health librarianship. Students received an introduction to the library as it operates in the hospital setting through a survey of the mental health sciences and the needs for library resources and services with special emphasis upon the librarian as a member of the team. A detailed outline of course content is given. 28. Project to study medical librarianship. Library of Congress Inform. Bull. 26: 320, May 18, 1967. A one-year experimental program in continuing education was to be initiated June 1, 1967, at Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Under a grant from the U. S. Public Health Service, the project was to have three parts: exploration of the present state of medical library practice; design of several courses in medical librarianship; evaluation of the courses offered. Publications should be soon forthcoming on this project. 29. Journal of Education for Librarianship. V. 8, no. 3, Winter 1968. Contains the Directory of American Library Schools. It lists library schools offering courses in medical librarianship, the professors teaching the courses, and the titles of the courses offered. As of 1966, courses in medical librarianship approved by the Medical Library Association were being offered by the following ten universities: Catholic University of America, Columbia University, Drexel Institute of Technology, Emory University, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Illinois, University of North Carolina, University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, and Western Reserve University. Other schools are in the process of setting up similar courses. It has proved impossible to find a more recent listing of universities offering approved courses in medical librarianship. Internships 30. ANDERSON, ISABELLE T., Chairman. Report of the Sub-Committee on Internships. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 333-6, Oct. 1949. Describes the initial attempts of this sub-committee to draw up requirements for a library which might give intern training, for an intern who might take such training, and to give a general outline of the training which should be offered. This is the first statement in the literature of these standards, and this article is quite important for this reason. 31. FLEMING, T. P. Present status and future possibilities of education for librarianship in the medical sciences. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 45: 467-70, Oct. 1957. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969 395

SHERRILYNNE SHIRLEY The most interesting aspect of this article is the predictions made by the author. Based upon the certification grades he states the following: (1) By 1962, fifty percent of the library school graduates will be taking an internship to qualify for Grade II. (2) By 1967, more than fifty percent of top administrative positions will be occupied by Grade III librarians. (3) By 1972, it will be unusual to find important posts filled by anyone other than a Grade III, who has taken at least a six-month internship upon graduation from library school. 32. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Continuing education for medical librarianship; a symposium: internships as continuing education. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 48: 408-12, Oct. 1960. Internship is defined as a period of supervised experience specifically designed to give the trained but inexperienced librarian a well-rounded working view of the field. The distinction is made between in-service training and internship. In-service training is education for a particular job, internship is education for any job in the field. The author attempts to distinguish further between these concepts and also to indicate the benefits of internship which cannot be gained from academic study. 33. KENNEDY, MAXINE. An internship. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 49: 423-5, July 1961. In 1957 an internship program was established at the National Library of Medicine. The program was designed to provide through a year's special training a broadly based work experience. The program began with a week's thorough orientation to the responsibilities and functions of the library. The schedule was arranged so that in the twelve-month period there were three rotation periods of three months each. The intern attends meetings of professional associations and visits other libraries in the area. 34. DARLING, LouISE. Development of training programs in American medical libraries. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 51: 329-53, July 1963. 396 Gives the history of the internship movement in medical libraries. Describes the first internship offered, which was at the Orleans Parish Medical Society Library in 1941. A description of the course of study is given. Later internships are discussed in less detail. 35. MARTIN, JESS A. What happens to medical library interns. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 416-7, Oct. 1967. Results are reported of a questionnaire survey on medical library interns who had participated in internship programs approved by MLA. Forty of forty-five interns to whom the questionnaires were sent responded. 36. MARTIN, JESs A. Medical library internship at NIH. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 207-8, Apr. 1967. The internship program for medical librarians sponsored by the National Institutes of Health was begun in 1964 and was approved by the MLA. Program objectives are given and the course work is described briefly. Continuing Education 37. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Education of medical librarians. Special Libr. 37: 68-71, March 1946. Indicates the ways a medical librarian can gain an education after only the basic bibliographical courses on the subject in library school. Internship of three to six months is considered important. Membership in professional organizations is emphasized. The most important way, however, is to work on some problem connected with medical libraries and then to publish conclusions on the subject for the aid of others. 38. BRANDRETH, HELEN M. Training oneself for medical librarianship. Libri 3: 226-31, 1954. This paper is intended primarily for those who have not had the benefit of specific courses of training in medical libraries. It offers practical information as well as some theory. 39. TROXEL, WILMA. Continuing education for medical librarians: formal university Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANSHIP courses. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 48: 404-7, Oct. 1960. Individual courses are offered in many library schools for medical librarians. Places where these courses are offered are listed and general content is described. These are emphasized as being single courses rather than a complete set of courses for medical librarians. 40. POSTELL, WILLIAM D. Continuing education for medical librarianship; a symposium: some practical thoughts on an internship program. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 48: 413-4, Oct. 1960. The author doubts the usefulness of the internship concept. He indicates his reasons for these doubts, and states that if no more progress is made in the next three years than has been made in the past few years, the internship program should be abandoned. 4 1. BLOOMQUIST, HAROLD, AND KINNEY, M. Continuing education of medical librarians: continuing education in the professions. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 51: 357-67, July 1963. Seven professions are examined to determine their attitudes toward the problem of continuing education and thus methods for implementing it. The professions studied are architecture, clergy, education, law, librarianship, medicine, nursing. 42. WITHROW, B. A. Continuing education of medical librarians; a symposium: the MLA and continuing education. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 51: 368-75, July 1963. A history of continuing education for medical librarians since 1898. 43. MEYERHOFF, ERiCH. Continuing education of medical librarians; a symposium: evaluation of the Association's past performance and suggestions for the future. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 51: 376-83, 1963. Describes the 1961 courses given at the MLA meeting in Seattle. The participants were divided into two groups: libraries over 10,000 volumes, the advanced seminar, and the other, a workshop for small libraries. Criticisms are given of these workshops. There is an evaluation and discussion of the other continuing education courses offered yearly at Association meetings and the statement is made that the most important single element in the success of a program of continuing education is the quality of instruction. 44. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. Continuing education of medical librarians, Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 51: 354-83, July 1963. A history of the Committee on Continuing Education is given along with the purpose of continuing education, and a description of the various sponsors of continuing education for medical librarians. 45. BRANDON, A. N. On continuing (or discontinuing) education. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 92, Jan. 1967. An editorial on continuing education for medical librarians as given at the MLA annual meeting. The author feels that until financial support is forthcoming from the government or the NLM or some private foundation, the Association will have to continue to take the responsibility of continuing the present program and expanding the course offering and the geographic coverage as fully as finances permit. 46. BRODMAN, ESTELLE. A philosophy of continuing education. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 56: 145-9, Apr. 1968. Librarians are today developing a philosophy because they no longer have the implicit assumptions about libraries that they once had, and thus they no longer have a unified goal. The professional association has a responsibility to its members to aid in their search for reality-"philosophy"-and specifically in their need for continuing education. MLA CODE FOR THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF MEDICAL LIBRARIANS 47. POSTELL, W. D. Is there a need for a certification program for the medical library profession? J. Ass. Amer. Med. Coll. 16: 385-6, Nov. 1941. Since school, college, and university librarians have standards which must be met, the author feels that the medical library profession should have a Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969 397

SHERRILYNNE SHIRLEY certification board appointed or sponsored by the MLA which would set up certain standards for its members. There are no specific standards mentioned, but the author feels that there are some aspects of the certification programs in other areas of librarianship which would be applicable. 48. JORDAN, MILDRED. Certification: a stage of professionalization. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 36: 112-3, Apr. 1948. The classic article in the field of certification for medical librarians. This article provided the impetus for the certification movement. Advantages of certification for the medical librarians are listed. 49. MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. Code for the training and certification of medical librarians. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 37: 350-2, Oct. 1949. The original code of the Medical Library Association. 50. MEDICAL LIBRARY AsSOCIATION. Code for the certification and training of medical librarians. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 52: 784-9, Oct. 1964. The code as it stands at present is given in full along with a short history of MLA certification. 51. MLA Certification: letters. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 18-9, Jan. 1967. Written in response to part of a general session on "Issues of 1966" held at the Sixty-fifth Annual Meeting of the MLA, Boston, Massachusetts, June 8, 1966. 52. LIBBEY, MIRIAM. MLA Certification: the certification program and education for medical librarianship. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 5-17, Jan. 1967. The certification program was officially adopted by the MLA in 1948 in an attempt to establish standards for medical librarians. In this article the program is reviewed and some of its effects on education for medical librarians are discussed. At the time of its adoption the program defined the kind of education librarians in the field thought necessary for work in medical libraries. As a result of new techniques and a shortage of personnel the Association must reevaluate certifications and standards programs frequently. Excellent article for an overview of the current situation. 53. MLA Certification: discussion. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 13-4, Jan. 1967. Part of a general session in "Issues of 1966" at the Sixty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association, June 8, 1966. Some very interesting points are raised about item nos. 52 and 54, which were given at this convention. 54. PROCTOR, WILMA. MLA Certification: its present problems and future development. Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 55: 9-12, Jan. 1967. In contrast to item no. 52, this article questions the actual existence of the three certification grades. The author states that since large institutions which employ many medical librarians do not officially recognize the certificates, she believes that the three types of certificates should be replaced by one grade. A program is proposed for the improvement of education for medical librarianship. Additional information on the activities of the Committee on Standards, the Committee on Curriculum and the Committee on Continuing Education of the Medical Library Association may be found in the annual report in each volume of the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. 398 Bull. Med. Libr. Ass. 57(4) Oct. 1969