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Profession: Health Information & Communication Services

Health Sciences Librarian: Health Sciences Librarians are the information sleuths of the health care world. They assist physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals in finding the latest published medical research required to diagnosis, treat, and rehabilitate their patients.

Health sciences librarians who work in academic environments also play a role in teaching college students how to find and use high quality resources to fulfill their course requirements. They provide instruction for medical school faculty and practicing physicians in the use of new electronic resources that will help them find clinical information quickly and efficiently. They assist university scientists engaged in cutting-edge research to search the literature for discoveries published by their counterparts in institutions around the world. They also assist members of the general public in finding accurate and reliable information concerning their own health problems or those of a loved one.

Health sciences librarians rely heavily on the use of automated technologies to locate vital information.

Salary Range: $40,000 - $70,000

Salary Notes: Salaries vary according to the type and location of institution, the level of responsibility, and the length of employment. The overall average salary for Health Sciences Librarians is $56,000.

Where you can study:
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, -
Simmons College, Boston, MA
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
University at Albany, SUNY, College of Computing and Information, Albany, NY
University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Where you might work:
Colleges and Universities - Computer Software Development Companies - Consumer Health Libraries - Government Agencies - Hospitals - Pharmaceutical Manufacturers - Research Centers and Foundations -

Job Outlook: The job outlook for health sciences librarians is generally expected to be slower than average through 2016. Those who are willing to be flexible in employment opportunities or are willing to relocate have greater career options. In addition, there are many opportunities for employment outside of the traditional library, including work in health-related business and industry and as an independent consultant.

Education, Licensing and Certification: High school course work for a career as a health sciences librarian should include college-prep courses, especially in the life sciences and humanities. The undergraduate degree (i.e., bachelor of arts or bachelor of science) can be earned in any area, although a background in fields such as biology, chemistry, nursing or allied health sciences, computer science, education, or management is helpful. To work as a health sciences librarian, you need a master’s degree from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited program.

Professional Organizations:
American Library Association 800-545-2433 www.ala.org
Medical Library Association 312-419-9094 www.mlanet.org