Assessment of Library Services in Pediatric Hospitals in the United States and Canada

Med Ref Serv Q. 2023 Oct-Dec;42(4):352-369. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2023.2258054. Epub 2023 Oct 29.

Abstract

This study reports on a 2022 survey of pediatric hospital librarians in the U.S. and Canada to assess the status of staffing, resources, and services in their libraries. The report compares the data against the MLA Hospital Library Caucus Standards (2022) and the Canadian Hospital Library Association Standards (2020). The report also provides a comparison of the libraries' rankings using the Regional U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals and Magnet status. This approach is intended to determine how librarians and library services at hospitals that are recognized by the above programs differ from those that are not recognized.

Keywords: Accreditation; hospital librarianship; library services; pediatric hospital libraries; standards.

MeSH terms

  • Canada
  • Child
  • Hospitals, Pediatric
  • Humans
  • Librarians*
  • Libraries, Hospital*
  • Libraries, Medical*
  • Library Services*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States