By: Lindsey Moultrie, UAB Clinical Reference Librarian
The information needs of graduate medical education learners are unique from those of traditional students, but this difference does not prevent us from using existing library systems in new ways tailored to their specific informational needs. At Lister Hill Library at University Hospital at UAB, we have used Springshare’s LibGuides platform to highlight library resources for residency programs, expanding our reach and improving access to high-value information.
Working in a hospital library requires constant assessment of patron needs. One of our largest patron groups is residents, which can be further divided into 33 different programs with highly specialized and varied information needs. Historically, residency programs directed learners to resources through many channels outside the library’s website. Electronic resources were often housed in MedHub, shared via network or Google drives, or passed informally from resident to resident. While these methods provided some access, they resulted in fragmented resource sharing and limited visibility of library-curated content.
In conversations with residents and program directors, we frequently asked which library resources they relied on; however, the informal nature of these exchanges rarely produced a complete picture. Although the library had previously created a small number of LibGuides for specific residency programs, the process was slow. Development could take months due to scheduling challenges, delays in receiving curated resource lists from residents and coordinators, and building a LibGuide from scratch every time.
To streamline the process, we developed a new approach. Using Doody’s Core Titles and Journal Citation Reports, we identified high-impact books and journals and cross-checked them against the library’s holdings. This curated list was used in a short Qualtrics survey that was distributed via email to program directors, education coordinators, and chief residents. The survey also included space for respondents to identify additional resources and share preferences for guide layout and organization. Once we received responses, we were able to produce a draft LibGuide quickly, which often prompted further feedback and suggestions, such as links to professional association education pages or clinical guidelines.
The first department we partnered with using this approach was Surgery. The faculty member overseeing intern education was particularly interested in strengthening ties with the library, making the collaboration especially productive. Using their feedback, we developed the initial guide over a few months. Since its launch, the guide has seen consistently high usage throughout the year, not just during resident onboarding, where it is heavily promoted. Building on this success, we have since worked with surgery to create sub-pages for each of the subspecialities.
After creating several guides and refining our workflow, I developed a LibGuide template that could be easily copied and customized by any member of our three-person hospital library team. This template standardized guide structure while allowing flexibility for program-specific needs. Each LibGuide follows the same basic five-page layout. The Home page explains the purpose of the guide, introduces the librarians, and highlights library services like basic and expert literature searches, along with tools for keeping up with new research. The Textbooks and Journals pages feature the titles identified through the survey and link directly to the full list of program-specific e-books and journals in the library catalog. The Databases page pulls together both general and specialty-specific databases useful for clinical decision-making, differential diagnosis, and background information, while the Test Prep Resources page focuses on resources that help with exam prep.
We determined the order of residency programs to reach out to about building a LibGuide by prioritizing those with existing library relationships, followed by programs we encountered through service interactions, and finally through introductory outreach emails (prioritizing the larger programs first like emergency medicine, radiology, and psychiatry). The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with most programs eager to participate and complete the survey.
At present, we are about halfway through reaching all residency programs. Fourteen guides are publicly available, with several more in development. Additionally, we have created a few guides for fellowship programs as requested. Usage statistics have been strong relative to program size, and we have also seen increased resident engagement with library services, including literature searches. Rethinking how to use LibGuides has not only ensured that residents are accessing library resources properly and without issue, but it has also increased awareness of the library, and we have seen an increase in requests since we started the project in late 2023. Together, these outcomes suggest that LibGuides can serve as an effective and scalable tool for supporting graduate medical education within a hospital library setting.
