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Stevens, Nguyen, Lerner, and Jo 

 

   

Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           8                                                                                

 

Rising Stars Research Projects 2016-2017: Action 
Research to Improve MLA’s Communities  

Gregg A. Stevens, MSLS, MST, AHIP  
Health Sciences Librarian  
Health Sciences Library  
Stony Brook University  
Stony Brook, NY  
gregg.stevens@stonybrook.edu  

 

Tony Nguyen, MLIS, AHIP  
Technology and Communications Coordinator  
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic  Region  
Health Sciences and Human Services Library  
University of Maryland, Baltimore  
Baltimore, MD  
ttnguyen@hshsl.umaryland.edu  

 

Rachel C. Lerner, MSLS, AHIP  
Research and Instruction Librarian  
Edward & Barbara Netter Library  
Quinnipiac University  
Hamden, CT  
Rachel.Lerner@quinnipiac.edu  

 

Phill Jo, MLIS  
Assistant Professor/ Head of Access Services  
Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library  
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center  
Oklahoma City, OK  
Phill-jo@ouhsc.edu 
 

Introduction 
 

Started in 2010, the Medical Library Association’s (MLA) Rising Stars program has provided 

early career librarians with valuable leadership training. The 2016-2017 cohort of Rising Stars 

had a unique opportunity to experience a significant update of the program that included 



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projects based on one initiative, MLA’s Sections and Special Interest Groups (SIGs), as MLA 

notes that less than half of MLA members belong to a Section or SIG. By concentrating the 

Rising Stars’ efforts in one general area, the project results were designed to inform larger 

discussions within MLA on the role of Sections and SIGs and supplement the work of the 

Communities Task Force.  

The heart of the Rising Stars program is the MLA Project [1]. The purpose of the 2016-2017 

projects was to add value to MLA and provide real impact to the organization. Projects were 

presented to the cohort as a form of Action Research, a disciplined inquiry that allows one to 

examine their practices, learn from them, and take action to effect positive change within the 

context of their own environment [2]. The cohort was provided a template to help organize the 

elements of the proposed projects, from the rationale and background information to the 

implementation and assessment. The intent of the completed projects was to provide MLA 

leadership and the Communities Task Force with actionable recommendations to support the 

changing needs of its members. The projects and the efforts of the Task Force ultimately help 

MLA strengthen its communities, which is part of the organization’s three year rolling strategic 

plan. 

The four Rising Stars presented synopses of their projects in May 2017 to the Section Council at 

the MLA Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. Following the presentations, the Rising Stars 

participated in breakout groups with the Section Council representatives to discuss how MLA 

Sections and SIGs could be improved to meet the needs of members. This article summarizes 

each of the individual Rising Stars projects, highlighting not only their work but also illustrating 

how these projects could potentially lead to more effective and meaningful MLA communities. 

Section Council (SC) is comprised of 2 members of each Section in MLA - generally the Section 

chair and the past Section chair. With the current 21 Sections, SC is comprised of at least 46 

members at any given point, including leadership positions. This research question could have 

taken a number of directions; however, it hinged on the stated purpose of SC: 

Assess the structure, procedures, and operation of the MLA Section Council and 

propose changes that better serve the Council purpose and enable it to determine 

if it is successful in realizing its purpose 

Rachel C. Lerner 

 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           10                                                                                

 

“The Section Council of the Medical Library Association provides an opportunity for 

Sections to participate more directly in the governance of the Association by serving in 

an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors of the Association. The Section Council 

also promotes interchange between Sections and, with its counterpart, Chapter Council, 

between Sections and Chapters.” [3] 

As one of the main purposes of SC is advocacy for and governance of the Sections, Lerner began 

her project by reviewing all of the documentation surrounding SC activities in an attempt to 

discover what success might look like. After this period of review, Lerner focused on one aspect 

of success: using data to advocate and facilitate informed decisions. While individual Sections 

should not be directly compared with one another, there is value in understanding their long-

term trajectories and efforts using a standardized set of data points. Synthesizing this 

information would aid in advocacy efforts for more money, time, etc. as well as help SC advise 

the Sections with up-to-date, easily accessible information. Additionally, because the Sections 

and SC rotate governance, centralized data collection and storage would facilitate smoother 

transitions for new leadership. 

Objectives and methods 

The research plan for this project was threefold: Lerner conducted a small qualitative survey of 

10 years of past SC Leadership (n=4) followed by telephone interviews of key MLA stakeholders. 

Additionally, she conducted a retrospective analysis and annotation of three years of MLA 

Board and SC meeting minutes; and, finally, reviewed and parsed the activity data from four 

years of Section annual reports. 

Results 

The survey, which had a 75% (n=3) response rate, revealed the following: SC would like the 

ability to track Section membership and activity over time; they would like the learning curve 

for SC positions to be less impactful to the operations of SC; and they would like increased 

independence in decision-making processes. An interview with the then SC Chair followed, 

along with informational calls to the SC webmaster and the MLA Director of Membership and 

Information Services. These interviews helped to identify the information available for 

collection as well as the types of information that might be useful to SC. Information readily 

available included: section membership numbers, operating budget, number of online 

discussion threads, and total amount of money raised. Information that would be useful to 



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collect and centralized included: number of awards given and to whom, number of special 

content sessions contributed to MLA annual conferences, number of nominations for chair and 

other positions, number of votes cast in elections, and number of MLA news items and Full 

Speed Ahead items contributed. Some of this information is currently collected in the annual 

reports, but it is not centralized in one location. One would have to go to each report to gather 

the information. 

A retrospective analysis and annotation of Board and SC meeting minutes revealed the type of 

information reported to SC, and in turn, what was reported to the MLA Board. Additionally, this 

study revealed what decisions were handled internally within SC, and which were brought to 

the MLA Board. Often, the Board would ask for more information or data before coming to a 

consensus. Finally, Lerner compiled and systematically reviewed the Section, SC, and MLA 

annual reports in order to identify the confluences and dissonances of year-end reporting data 

and formats, and to gather ideas for standardized metrics. She discovered that information was 

being reported inconsistently and in a variety of formats, without a centralized repository for all 

data. 

Recommendations 

In consideration of all information gathered and analyzed, Lerner proposed that SC create a 

“metrics dashboard” as well as a standardized metrics collection form. Lerner created a draft 

version of the dashboard for SC, which would be transparent to the membership and contain all 

data collected by Sections and SC in the annual reports. This dashboard would be treated as a 

living document, with yearly review of metrics to verify or determine continued relevancy. 

Considerable input and buy-in from SC would be required in order to implement a final version, 

including a brainstorming session wherein SC members would discuss specific metrics based on 

usefulness to both their Sections and the Council as a whole. Considerations would include 

selection of metrics to help leaders make decisions; those to share with the MLA Board; and 

those that could further demonstrate impactful execution of goals set forth in annual reports. 

With the exception of time costs and the expense of providing a location at an annual meeting 

for a brainstorming session, this implementation would be financially null. A potential quagmire 

might result from an inclination of Sections to compare themselves through quantitative 

metrics. This should be discouraged early and often, as each Section is unique in their operating 

costs, membership, and deliverables. It should be communicated that decisions are never made 

on numbers alone - they are just one point in a larger conversation. Implementing a 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           12                                                                                

 

standardized metrics form as an addendum to the current annual report template would be a 

fairly straightforward procedure. This form would not replace the current template; rather, it 

would augment what is currently used. This form would rely heavily on what is decided 

regarding the metrics dashboard, as all of the collected data would be included in the 

dashboard. 

The purpose of SC is to advocate to the MLA Board of Directors on behalf of Sections, and to 

promote and serve the projects of the Sections. This project presents an opportunity for SC and 

Sections to enhance both their advocacy and decision-making through judicious use of data 

collected. Some, but not all, of this data is available through the MLA headquarters. Requiring 

each Section to complete their forms and then adding that information to a central repository 

will reduce redundant data collection efforts and allow for re-use by other interested parties. 

Finally, Section members pay to be involved, and a more in-depth reporting of Section activities 

as well as an increase in the transparency of those activities can demonstrate the value of their 

membership dues. 

At the time projects were assigned, MLA accepted a long-term strategic action plan in high 

priority areas due to the significant and meaningful impact to deliver on the mission of the 

organization. The 21 MLA Sections were tasked to develop one to three multi-year goals and 

two to four strategies to achieve each of these goals to support the mission of MLA and delivery 

of the organization’s strategic plan. MLA provided Sections a template to utilize to assist with 

the creation of their goals.  

Objectives 

Nguyen focused his research on developing a process that simplifies methods for Sections to 

create strategic goals, improving their relevance to the MLA membership. Through these 

changes, Sections could increase activity within their membership, recruit new members to 

support the strategic goals, allow for cross-collaboration between Sections, and provide 

increased value to MLA members.  

Assess the relevance of the current (Summer 2016) strategic goals of Sections to 

MLA members and the health information profession and propose an initiative to 

improve relevance  

Tony Nguyen 

 



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Methods 

Nguyen spent significant time reviewing the template provided by MLA to its Sections.  

After contacting each of the Section leaders for their current strategic goals, he received 13 sets 

of goals from Sections (approximately 62%). After reviewing what was received, he identified 

that each section utilized different formats in their strategic goals. At the time of review, only 2 

of the strategic plans followed the MLA current strategic plan structure (10% of all sections). In 

addition to reviewing all of the strategic plans, annual and mid-year reports from all Sections 

submitted since 2014 were analyzed in order to identify goals and strategies, and the Sections’ 

public pages on the MLA website were explored to identify how they promoted their programs 

to MLA members.  

Results 

Upon review of strategic plans, annual, and mid-year reports, Nguyen identified similar 

interests, strategies, and goals from each Section. Unfortunately, Sections may be unaware of 

these similarities as they might not read these reports, creating a duplication of effort that 

could be solved through cross-sectional collaboration. Reviewing Section’s public pages 

provided insight in how MLA members may perceive the activities and benefits of spending 

additional money to join. Of concern is that Section public pages do not showcase the benefit of 

spending additional fees on top of their MLA membership to join a specific Section aside from 

access to a member directory, forum, and possibly a newsletter. Members searching for value 

for their dollars may hesitate to spend additional money to join a Section without knowledge of 

the Section’s activities that could be identified within the Section’s strategic plan.  

Recommendations 

In light of these discoveries, Nguyen proposed that Sections might align their strategic plans 

more easily with MLA’s strategic plan and submit goals in a more unified manner by utilizing an 

automated system. An automated system would help Sections add their goals, strategies, and 

objectives more easily, assign point of contacts for each activity associated, and give Section 

Council and MLA an opportunity to check up on and discuss the progress of specific activities. 

To assist with searchability, Nguyen suggests including options that refer back to a specific MLA 

goal the strategy would support. With updates and revisions planned for the MLA 

Competencies for Lifelong Learning and Professional Success, referring to these competencies 



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may help showcase how the strategies would support the professional development of MLA 

members. With an automated system, the information will become searchable, increasing 

benefit to its membership. This would allow Section leaders and members to search and 

identify other Sections working on projects similar in nature to discuss collaboration. Finally, in 

order to help promote Sections and attract members, goals, strategies, and objectives made 

visible on the Sections’ public pages would support increased membership and attract 

volunteers to help Sections achieve their goals by promoting current projects that may interest 

new members.  

In consideration of the significant endeavor it would take to develop a database as described, 

potential challenges were considered that could be associated with implementation of the 

project plan. The first risk identified is the steep learning curve Section leaders may have in 

developing strategic goals aligned to MLA in general. As many members of the association may 

not be familiar with writing strategic goals, they may have difficulty developing strategic goals 

and may require training in order to write them. Training would need to occur regarding 

strategic goals, utilizing an input form, and utilizing a searchable database which may take 

significant time to implement. There may be projects that Sections do not want publicly 

available; for this, there would be an opt-out option. For a goal to be attractive to all members 

within the organization, it may be important to have goals and strategies that are visible only to 

Section members. These goals may be available in Section portals only available to members.  

The project plan outlined provides an opportunity for MLA Sections to be more closely aligned 

with the organization’s strategic plan. Additionally, utilizing a database to identify what other 

Sections are doing may help them learn from what others have accomplished or collaborate on 

projects with other Sections. By connecting Section goals to the public page, members will have 

an opportunity to understand what projects Sections are working on which may improve 

membership and volunteerism within the group. 

 

The purpose of MLA Sections and SIGs is to represent subject expertise in certain topic areas 

and to build communities of members based on their interests and specialties under the 

umbrella of MLA. Individual members can join Sections and SIGs based on types of libraries, 

Assess how well the topical coverage of MLA Sections and SIGs address the needs 

of MLA’s primary audiences and propose an initiative to improve coverage  

Phill Jo 



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specific functions, and various purposes. Members can join multiple SIGs with no extra fees, 

and can join Sections by paying annual fees ranging from $10.00 to $20.00. MLA members can 

share and develop their knowledge and educational experiences by participating in Sections 

and SIGs, networking, and gaining leadership experience at the national level. 

According to a membership data analysis for Sections and SIGs, only a small portion of MLA 

members participate in Sections and SIGs. As of September 2016, there were 21 Sections and 

25 SIGs. Membership within Sections varied, ranging from 1% to 18% of the total of MLA 

memberships. Despite free membership, SIGs ranged from 0.4% to 7% of the total MLA 

memberships. Even though MLA offers Sections and SIGs on various topics and subject areas, 

less than 20% of MLA members join them.  

Objectives and Methods 

Based on the analysis of membership data, Jo sought to assess the relevance of topical 

coverage of Sections and SIGs to MLA’s primary audience. In addition to a membership 

participation analysis, Jo conducted a short six question survey that was sent to Section leaders 

such as the chair, chair-elect, past-chair, secretary, and SIG conveners to assess the relevance of 

topic coverage and member satisfaction. The survey questions were sent to a total of 122 MLA 

Section and SIG leaders over a 2 week period in December 2016.  

Results 

Based on the analysis, the highest participation rate of a Section was in the Hospital Libraries 

Section (n= 587) representing 18% of total MLA members (n=3269). The Clinical Librarians and 

Evidence-Based Healthcare SIG had the most members (n=206), representing 6.3% of the total 

MLA membership (n=3269).  

The survey response rate was 20% (n=25) for Sections and 8% (n=10) for SIGs. According to the 

survey results, 76% (n=19) of the Section leaders were satisfied with current topical coverage 

and its relevance to MLA; 80% (n=8) of SIG conveners answered that they were satisfied with 

the topical coverage. Respondents commented that topics were very similar between Sections 

and SIGs. They also mentioned that topics such as outreach, scholarly communication, research 

impact, emerging technologies, and instructional design need to be included in Sections or SIGs. 

The leaders consider joining a Section or SIG beneficial for individual members as it provides 

educational and funding opportunities, information sharing, networking, leadership, and 



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professional development, while gaining knowledge on specific topics. Respondents shared 

potential barriers to joining Sections and SIGs as financial burdens, indirect benefits, lack of 

time, and being unaware of Sections and SIGs. 

Respondents expressed that promoting the benefits and activities of Sections and SIGs is 

critical. While they mentioned that topical coverage is not a major issue, some commented that 

topics are overly broad, redundant, and mostly academic or institution-specific. One 

respondent said that some Sections and SIGs might consider merging since they cover similar 

topics. Another commented that “there are too many Sections and many SIGs could be covered 

by Sections.” Results also indicated that Sections and SIGs should focus on enhancing their 

current membership.  

Recommendations 

Based on the survey results and review of Sections and SIGs from the MLA website, Jo 

recommends making Sections and SIGs, along with their activities and accomplishments, more 

visible to MLA members through an improved presence on the MLA website. MLA members 

should be able to easily access the goals and benefits of Sections and SIGs. Virtual meetups and 

social media can be used widely for different purposes as well. It is also recommended that 

MLA host promotional sessions where Sections and SIGs can share their programs and activities 

and to have social events at annual meetings in order to increase their membership. 

Additionally, a suggestion is made to offer specific internal benefits to Section and SIG members 

such as providing free continuing education courses if hosted by a Section or SIG they are a part 

of, and giving members paper and poster presentation opportunities at annual meetings in 

relation to their Section and SIG. It is recommended that MLA conduct more detailed needs 

assessments and membership satisfaction surveys regularly to reflect the specific interests and 

needs of its members. In addition, MLA could provide discounted membership fees for those 

who are active and join multiple Sections; leaders of Sections and SIGs covering similar or 

overlapping topics could discuss either merging or collaborating with each other to develop 

activities of interest.  

These recommendations come with limitations, as other factors are involved in the relevancy of 

Sections and SIGs. Even though many dedicated members consider Sections and SIGs as their 

“home” within MLA, many struggle with recruiting new members and maintaining engagement 

with current members. Active Section and SIG members have multiple roles in their own group 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           17                                                                                

 

and find it time-consuming to improve the relevance of their community to MLA members. 

Analyzing results from the survey indicates that Sections and SIGs are important as they bring a 

sense of community and belonging for members at the national level. They are a place to share 

information by asking and answering questions from colleagues interested in a similar topic. As 

the project discovered, it is important to examine the values and benefits of Sections and SIGs 

and to continually communicate them to MLA members.  

 

MLA SIGs, as more informal bodies with no membership requirements or annual dues, are 

created to support specialty areas in librarianship. Because of their ephemeral nature and the 

changing popularity of some niche specialties, some of the groups have faced irregular levels of 

membership and participation in recent years.  

Objectives 

In his research on this assigned topic, Stevens focused on how SIGs could increase membership 

in order to make participation more valuable to all members and create more meaningful 

member experiences. SIGs might then be able to retain and add to their membership, increase 

activity, and ultimately provide greater value to MLA members.  

Methods 

In consultation with his project advisor, Stevens created a qualitative survey with five open-

ended questions addressing SIG membership and activity. The survey was sent to the 38 SIG 

conveners, based on MLA records, in October 2016. Of the 38 conveners, ten responded to the 

survey (26.3%). At the time of the survey, 25 SIGs were in existence, accounting for 40% of the 

group responses. The responding SIGs included groups with membership levels ranging from 12 

to 211 members (mean of 74.8) as of December 1, 2016. Group topical coverage for this cohort 

included groups formed around medical specialties (Chiropractic, Pediatric, Vision Science, 

Department of Veterans Affairs), facets of health science librarianship (Clinical Librarians and 

Evidence-Based Healthcare, Libraries in Curriculum, Outreach and Marketing, Resource 

Sharing), and social issues (Health Disparities, LGBTQ). Upon initial analysis of the results, 

Assess SIG membership requirements and guidelines and propose new 

requirements and guidelines  

Gregg A. Stevens 

 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           18                                                                                

 

Stevens contacted three conveners to arrange for follow-up interviews. Only one was available, 

and the follow-up interview was conducted by phone in December 2016. 

Results 

Analysis of the responses pointed to three main concerns. Six of the ten respondents (60%) 

expressed some concern over membership levels that were either flat or declining and many of 

the respondents indicated that they were unaware of any active recruitment or promotion to 

increase membership in their groups. The convener of one group stated that the group’s 

membership declined by about 75% after MLA switched to the Socious platform in 2015, which 

blocked SIG participants who were not active MLA members. Secondly, the majority of the SIGs 

reported that they are not active outside of the annual meeting (60% of respondents), so the 

value of these groups to its members is limited. Finally, half of the respondents (50%) 

mentioned the potential for greater participation in the groups through the use of technology. 

One idea mentioned by many respondents was to hold online meetings, which would allow 

members unable to attend the MLA annual meeting to participate in the group’s activities 

virtually. 

Recommendations 

Based on these responses, Stevens created a two-fold pilot project proposal to address both 

the low membership levels and participation. The first part of the proposal involves the creation 

of a new basic level of MLA membership, which would allow for access to SIG resources but 

very few other MLA resources. This would allow for non-MLA members to access SIG resources 

and participate in SIG activities. However, this level of membership would not provide any of 

the other benefits of MLA membership. This low level of membership might appeal to those 

interested in SIG topics but who would not join MLA due to cost. The “SIG Only” level of 

membership as proposed would have nominal annual dues of $20. This amount is comparable 

to the dues charged to join equivalent groups in MLA’s peer organizations (American Library 

Association and Special Libraries Association) and the funds would help to cover administrative 

costs. Ultimately, the goal would be to convert many of the “SIG Only” memberships to full 

MLA memberships, after “SIG Only” members learn the value of the content and experiences 

provided by MLA membership. Stevens proposed that the “SIG Only” membership dues could 

be applied to full MLA membership. 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           19                                                                                

 

The second part of the proposed pilot project involves encouraging the SIGs to hold more 

activities online to address the survey concern that many SIGs only hold a business meeting at 

the MLA annual meeting but are inactive for the rest of the year. If a SIG holds its annual 

business meeting online, prior to the MLA annual meeting, it allows people to participate who 

are unable to travel to the meeting, allowing for greater participation. It provides the SIG an 

opportunity to use its in-person meeting time for alternate activities related to its topic, such as 

round table discussions or guest speakers. This would mimic the blended or hybrid format used 

in academia, combining in-person and virtual elements. It also addresses two of the key 

challenges mentioned in the survey: low participation in the SIGs throughout the year and the 

potential use of technology to make for more meaningful member experiences. This shift to 

online content has recently been tested by some Sections and SIGs. For example, the Nursing 

and Allied Health Resources Section (NAHRS) held its 2017 business meeting online prior to the 

MLA annual meeting, and the Outreach and Marketing SIG held its first virtual meeting in July 

2017. With time, this could become a normal practice for MLA communities.  

Conclusion 
 

The concept of “Action Research” was foreign to the 2016-2017 Rising Stars. With the 

understanding of MLA’s concept of this disciplined inquiry, the projects gave the cohort the 

opportunity to understand the inner workings of MLA Sections and SIGs. Through their assigned 

projects, the group members developed their research and problem-solving skills as they 

contributed toward MLA’s strategic goal to strengthen member communities. 

However, there were challenges with the project implementation that could have improved 

and enhanced the cohort’s experience. After the group worked on their projects independently 

for several months, the participants shared their results in a class session, only to discover that 

each of their projects overlapped significantly. In retrospect, the cohort agreed that if they 

worked collectively as a team, the projects would have been more streamlined and possibly 

have reduced a duplication of effort. By working as a team, the cohort believed that they may 

have suggested different actionable items in their project proposals to MLA and provided 

positive change to the organization. Additionally, working on a group project would provide a 

better experience for the leadership program, because successful organizational projects are 

rarely conducted by one person in a bubble but rather a team. The cohort recommends that 

future Rising Star cohorts conduct group projects in lieu of individual ones. 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           20                                                                                

 

An additional challenge to the research projects was the difficulty in obtaining MLA data and 

records. Archived MLA documents are housed at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and 

unavailable in a digital format. The only way to access this information is to visit NLM and 

conduct research at their facility. Newer MLA records are digital, but the group faced some 

difficulty locating information and at times relied on the collective knowledge of past members 

and leaders. A more streamlined, transparent, and extensive data management system would 

have improved the process to locate and utilize the background material necessary to conduct 

the research projects.  

Despite these challenges, the individual projects provided the four Rising Stars significant 

opportunity to learn new skills, such as writing strategic goals, conducting applied research, and 

creating a pilot project plan. Additionally, the Action Research projects provided deep insight 

into the inner workings of MLA, Section Council, Sections, and SIGs which would not have been 

learned by the cohort otherwise. In creating their project proposals, each member utilized their 

strengths to develop actionable items based on their own research findings. In the end, the 

group believes that the project findings and ideas presented to both Section Council and the 

Communities Task Force can strengthen MLA’s Sections and SIGs and make them more valuable 

to the membership. 

References 

1. Medical Library Association. MLA Rising Stars [Internet]. Chicago: Medical Library 

Association; 2017. [cited 2017 Aug 1]. Available from: http://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=44. 
 

2. Crothers K. Action Research. In: Research Starters: Education (Online Edition) [Internet]. 

Ipswich (MA): Great Neck Publishing; 2015. [cited 2017 Aug 1].  Available from: EBSCOhost: 

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89164051&site=eds-

live&scope=site. 
 

3. Medical Library Association. Section Council Procedure Manual [Internet]. Chicago: Medical 

Library Association; 2017. [cited 2017 Aug 21]. Available from: 

http://www.mlanet.org/p/do/sd/sid=871&fid=1658&req=pdfdirect. 

--- 

http://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=44
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89164051&site=eds-live&scope=site
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89164051&site=eds-live&scope=site
http://www.mlanet.org/p/do/sd/sid=871&fid=1658&req=pdfdirect


Art Show Paints a Collaborative Picture  
Stark, Paris, Rogan, Finnegan Dopkins, and Etter 

 

   

Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           21                                                                                

 

Art Show Paints a Collaborative Picture: Increasing 
Engagement in a Pharmacy and Health Sciences Library  

Rachel Stark, MS, AHIP 
Health Sciences Librarian, Senior Assistant Librarian  

Sacramento State University 

Sacramento, CA 

stark@sacstate.edu 

 

Mickel Paris, MLIS 
Health Sciences Librarian, Assistant Professor  
Rite Aid Information Commons 

University of the Pacific 

Stockton, CA 

mparis@pacific.edu 

 

Ed Rogan, PharmD 
Assistant Professor, Thomas J . Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences  
University of the Pacific 

Stockton, CA 

erogan@pacific.edu 

 

Mary-Kate Finnegan Dopkins, MLIS 
Library Services Specialist  
Rite Aid Information Commons 

University of the Pacific 

Stockton, CA 

kdopkins@pacific.edu 

 

Cassie Etter, MTS 
Library Services Specialist  
Rite Aid Information Commons 

University of the Pacific 

Stockton, CA 

cetter@pacific.edu 



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Abstract 
Objective: To increase student, staff, and faculty engagement with the health sciences library. 

Methods: Faculty, staff, and students were encouraged to create pharmacy-themed artworks 

and submit them to the library for entry into an art show.  A two-hour art show and gala were 

planned for library patrons to view art pieces submitted by faculty, staff, and students. 

Participation data was collected during the event and compared to previous programming held 

at the health sciences library.   

Results: The PharmArt program determined a metric of demonstrable success would show as 

an uptick in participation; both physical and digital, when compared against previous library 

events.  Physical participation was measured through program attendance and art piece 

submission. Participating demographics were represented by all target populations of faculty, 

staff, and students with a total increase of 52 participants (347% increase) over the previous 

event. Engagement through social media showed a considerable increase in clicks (2224%), 

shares (1200%), and overall reach (24%) within the school community. 

Conclusions: Incorporating student, staff, and faculty art works into a library-hosted event 

increased participation in a library program compared to previous library programming. 

Attendance and Social Media engagement increased considerably. Faculty, librarians, and 

students were brought together to share a common creative interest and to promote a casual 

atmosphere in which cross-curricular ideas could be discussed among attendees. 

 

Introduction 
 

The Rite Aid Information Commons (RAIC) is the health sciences library serving the University of 

the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  The school supports the 

academic success of students studying pharmacy, audiology, physical therapy, and speech 

language pathology. Library events at the RAIC, such as the Better Hearing & Speech Month 

(BHSM) Kickoff Party, have traditionally had poor attendance, even with social media marketing 

and incentives such as raffle prizes.  Due to the lack of engagement, many event goals were 

unmet (for example, providing important information regarding diseases and other health-

related subjects), prompting a reevaluation of library programming at the RAIC.  

Research increasingly supports library programs that provide students the opportunity to 

actively participate in creative endeavors at the intersection of art and science in order to view 

different facets of established academic and clinical concepts [1, 2].  In collaboration with 



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pharmacy faculty, the RAIC hosted an art event and subsequent pop-up art gallery with the 

goals of 1) increasing engagement and collaboration with faculty and students and 2) improving 

patron interest in the library through creative and participatory library services.  

The event, entitled PharmArt, was designed to encourage collaborative creative activity and 

stimulate discussion among artists and participants.  Since the library is a neutral space, the 

RAIC provided a welcoming environment for artistic expression, which is recommended for the 

exchange of cross-curricular ideas [3]. The exhibit also provided pharmacy students and faculty 

an opportunity to interact socially with students from other disciplines.  

Participation was broadly solicited from faculty, staff, and students within the School of 

Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and works from every physical art medium were welcomed. The 

theme of the art show was “Knowing Your Pharmacist and the Local History of Pharmacy.” 

 

Objective 
 

Previous programming at the RAIC had low participation, with just 15 attendees at the Better 

Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) kickoff event. The primary goal of PharmArt was to positively 

increase student and faculty engagement in person and online at the RAIC by hosting an active, 

participatory library program.  Not only did PharmArt improve event turnout to 67 attendees 

from BHSM’s 15 (347%), it also increased online engagement by 24 (1200%) Facebook shares 

and reactions.  The secondary goal was to explore if students, faculty, and staff would be 

interested in a library-hosted art program.  This goal was facilitated by encouraging creative 

participation from nine faculty, staff, and students who submitted eleven works of art, as well 

as providing attendees with the opportunity to vote in the art show.     
 

Literature Review 
 

Libraries are discovering methods to reshape space through art and aesthetics in order to 

connect with the community and draw in new users.  A review of the literature reveals that art 

shows and galleries are created with much success not only in campus libraries, but in science 

and health sciences libraries as well.  

Beals’ 2007 article on student art in library exhibitions details not only the process of setting up 

an exhibition program, but also the rationale [3]. In this often-cited article, Beals explores the 

process of designating the exhibition space, creating submission procedures, and deploying 

publicity, among other important logistical considerations, for the University of Tennessee 



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Libraries.  The process includes the creation of an inviting and visually appealing space, as well 

as providing an educational purpose that supports the library’s mission.  Similarly, the 

University of Colorado invited the general community to explore non-traditional uses of library 

space by establishing an art gallery that showcases works by local and visiting artists [4]. 

Science and health sciences libraries are also realizing the value of art in science learning.  The 

Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University, which serves agriculture, life science and human 

ecology programs, has created an art gallery that attempts to create interdisciplinary 

knowledge and communicate science through visual imagery, such as sculpture, drawing, 

photography, and illustration [5]. For the Marston Science Library at University of Florida, an art 

contest called “Elegance of Science” encourages faculty, students, and staff to compete for 

awards and recognition, while also providing campus art connoisseurs the opportunity to 

reflect and contemplate the discoveries of life [6]. 

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has contributed to interdisciplinary learning innovation 

by creating the NLM Traveling Exhibition Program that health science libraries can adopt to 

engage with users.  Previous high-interest themes include health science topics found in 

Frankenstein and Harry Potter novels.  Outcomes of the NLM’s traveling galleries reveal that 

they positively change users’ perceptions of the library and bring more people through the 

doors [7]. 

Additionally, art shows and galleries are increasingly proving to be both ice breakers and 

sandboxes for future collaboration between faculty and librarians.  Catalano et al. point out 

that disparate areas of the school, such as the health sciences and arts programs, all share 

something in common: the library [8].  College and university libraries that have indicated an 

explicit desire to increase outcomes of faculty-librarian connections and collaborations through 

art include:  

• University of Akron Science & Technology library, which created a gallery of artistic 

journal covers of published faculty research [9] 

• Fort Lewis College Reed Library, which emphasized student success outcomes within the 

College’s mission [10] 

• Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library at George Washington University Medical Center, 

where the library’s art show has flourished since 1979 and has become a popular annual 

tradition embedded within the culture of the campus [11] 

Throughout the literature, the common denominator in libraries developing an art show or 

establishing an art gallery is to further the library’s mission, supported by the ideal of the library 



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as a service organization with eight functions described by Frieda O. Weise in her 2003 Janet 

Doe Lecture as: a physical symbol of knowledge, an intellectual commons, a haven for research, 

a place for collaboration, an access point for information, a forum to teach, a functional and 

pleasant workplace, and an attractive gateway to the campus [12].  Art shows can embody 

these functions within the library by combining art with science to provide novel learning 

experiences for students between disciplines and encourage collaboration between faculty and 

librarians, where Beals states: “conversation is stimulated, participation is encouraged, and new 

experiences are gained.” [3]. 

 

Methods 
 

In an effort to engage students, faculty, and staff in library programing, library staff working in 

conjunction with a School of Pharmacy faculty member, held a pharmacy-themed art show 

designed to bring together the various health sciences communities served by the RAIC.  The 

name PharmArt was chosen for the pilot event to support American Pharmacists Month, with 

the majority of the marketing targeted to School of Pharmacy faculty, staff, and students.  

Submission requirements also included a local history of pharmacy theme, to encourage artists 

and viewers to connect their learning with the event. 

Library staff released requests for art submissions on the health sciences campus during the 

summer of 2015 through social media accounts and print advertising displayed in campus 

libraries and health sciences buildings.  The PharmArt gala was scheduled for October 13th from 

noon to 1pm.  The submission process asked that prospective artists submit information about 

their works through a Google form, which was also accessible through a QR Code created at 

Kaywa.com.  Artists were informed through email communications from library staff as to when 

and where to submit their artwork during the event.  As the event date approached, internal 

reminders about the event were emailed to faculty and staff.  Pharmacy faculty were asked to 

promote the event to their students.  Student library staff were trained to answer common 

questions about submissions, contest details, and the event, as well as encourage participation 

and attendance to anyone inquiring. 

The library decided to organize the event in the style of a gala in the hopes of drawing 

additional interest.  To meet this end, the gala event organizers obtained a $500 budget from 

the University Library to purchase food and drinks, prizes, and necessary exhibit staging for 

artwork and decorations.  Knowing food would be a popular inducement, funds were set aside 

for that purpose in addition to the library purchasing door and participation prizes for the top 

three art pieces to be awarded in the days following the PharmArt art show.  The prizes 



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selected were a one-terabyte external hard drive, a $25.00 Amazon gift card, a university tote 

bag, and a $15.00 iTunes card.  These were allocated as first, second, third, and door prizes 

respectively.  Prizes were awarded through the use of raffle tickets given to attendees as they 

entered.  Mention of raffle prizes and free food played a part in the in-house and online 

marketing campaigns. 

During the event, the library remained open, however users were informed that the event 

might be disruptive.  Art pieces were placed on display with a card stating title, artist, and art 

medium on the day of the event and, during the event, artists were encouraged to stand near 

their art and discuss it with viewers.  Raffle tickets were given to PharmArt exhibit attendees for 

a door prize and also used as voting ballots for patrons’ favorite art pieces. These tickets were 

tallied after the event day and prizes were awarded and ribbons placed.  All art pieces were 

assigned numbers which were displayed prominently on the title card, which was used to 

record the vote selection. 

At the event, attendees were encouraged to mingle while enjoying the different art displays 

and then place a vote for the piece they liked best by dropping their ticket, with contact 

information and vote recorded on the back, in a secured box.  After the show, votes were 

tallied and winners determined based on number of votes.  The art remained on display for 

several weeks following the exhibition.  

The library determined the number of students, faculty, and staff who attended the event by 

conducting patron counts at the beginning, middle, and end of the event, and by asking all 

attendees to put their basic information on a ticket used to vote for the best art work.  In order 

to exclude patrons who were in the library for more traditional use, such as studying, 

attendance counts for PharmArt was checked against the number of tickets collected, removing 

library users who did not participate in the PharmArt event from the final attendance count.  

 

Results 
 

To determine if the PharmArt program theme and marketing efforts netted a broader audience 

and increased online engagement, the library compared metrics collected from a prior event.  

First, the research team assessed attendance and social media ‘hits’ from PharmArt to the same 

information recorded during an earlier event held at the library, the Better Hearing and Speech 

Month (BHSM) kickoff party. Compared to data collected from the BHSM event in May of the 

same year, PharmArt successfully increased the target demographic attendance in the library, 

and increased the library’s social media presence.  



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Attendance at PharmArt recorded an increase of 347% above BHSM.  A total of 67 individuals 

attended the art show, improving the attendance numbers from the previous BHSM program, 

which drew only 15 attendees (Table 1). Over the course of the PharmArt gala, 67 raffle tickets 

were handed out and 60 votes were received, indicating a willingness of attendees to 

participate and contribute to the event.  All metrics for social media also indicated a marked 

increase (Table 1).  Facebook metrics showed a gain in posts (+393.33%), shares/reactions 

(+1200%), cumulative reach (+24.07%), and click-throughs (+2223.53%).  The library’s PharmArt 

blog post hits experienced a gain of 23.08% over BHSM. 

 
 

Better Hearing & Speech Month 
May 2015 

 

PharmArt 
October 2015 

Total Attendance 15 67 

  Student  11 54 
  Faculty  3 7 

  Staff  1 6 

Blog Post Hits 26 32 

Facebook Page Posts 6 29 

Facebook 
Shares/Reactions 2 26 

Facebook Cumulative 
Reach 108 134 

Facebook Click Throughs 17 395 

Table 1. Physical Attendance and Social Media Engagement 

Additionally, it was demonstrated anecdotally that the target community was interested in 

participating in an art show.  Student staff workers regularly answered queries about the event 

in the month leading up to the gala and, by the date of the gala, the library had received a rich 

cross section of representation of art works in a variety of two-dimensional and three-

dimensional media.  All 11 art pieces that artists submitted for the art show were approved and 

included in the event.  The ratio of university patron types participating was diverse, with 4 

students, 3 faculty and 2 staff comprising the cohort of 9 artists. Furthermore, art was 

submitted not only from the School of Pharmacy, but also from other areas of the university: of 

the 11 art submissions, 6 came from the School of Pharmacy, 3 from the University Library, 1 

from Computer Engineering, and 1 from the Business program.  

 



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Discussion 
 

Compared to previous library programming, the engagement metrics reveal that PharmArt 

generated interest and participation amongst the faculty, staff, and students in the Thomas J. 

Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  The use of a common creative interest allowed 

these normally separate groups to engage in a more casual atmosphere that helped to remove 

some of the barriers experienced within a university setting.  Participants included members of 

the different departments and disciplines of the school.  Verbal feedback from participants 

provided during the event was positive and showed that the library can be a place for 

engagement as well as learning.  

The primary goal of increasing student and faculty engagement for an active, participatory 

library program was achieved.  Not only did RAIC notice improvement for in-person attendance, 

but online engagement and interaction increased as well.  An art show, in particular, may help 

online and social media marketing of the library since it is a visual, aesthetic medium that 

complements online spaces. 

The secondary goal of exploring interest in a library-hosted art program revealed that interest is 

very good, as the ratio of art participants included members from the three targeted patron 

groups: students, faculty and staff.  Furthermore, the majority of art gala attendees 

participated in the art show itself through voting for their favorite art pieces. 

Previous events at the library, such as BHSM, did not include active participation and were 

unsuccessful in generating engagement and participation.  By finding a common creative 

interest and developing a program that brought all together, the library space transformed 

from the everyday usage as a study and snacking area to a collaborative engagement area, 

where students, faculty, and staff mingled, interacted and participated in a pop-up art gallery.   

 

Limitations 
 

A major limitation is that the research primarily calculates the quantitative increase in patron 

engagement of PharmArt within the library and online in social media but does not assess 

qualitative data.  Samples of qualitative data that would be relevant and helpful to discuss 

include whether patrons enjoyed the art show, found it useful, or learned something new.  As 

only one PharmArt event has been held, future shows could include qualitative assessments or 

interviews, and this data could be combined with engagement metrics to build a more 

complete picture on the quality of engagement with the attendees.  



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Another limitation in the study concerns other events or factors that could influence 

attendance.  The timing of events, for example, could be construed as potentially helping or 

hurting attendance.  In this study, attendance at BHSM was held in the time leading up to mid-

term exams and also just before the release of speech therapy students for their summer 

break, whereas PharmArt was held following mid-terms: as such, the difference could be 

construed to affect attendance.  Time of year could also have an effect, as students in spring 

semester may be more interested in outside activities, whereas fall semester weather may be 

more conducive to indoor activities and events.  The seasonal difference could also affect 

online engagement if patrons are more interested in outdoor activities in the spring rather than 

the fall. 

 

Future Directions 
 

The success of the first PharmArt show has led the RAIC to begin developing future programs 

involving art and examining how this active participation can help students develop skills for 

stress relief and confidence building.  The use of art in pharmacy curricula is very limited but 

has shown to be helpful in other health science disciplines. Multiple studies on observing the 

effects of art on student development and pedagogies have been conducted primarily in 

medical school programs, and can provide outcomes that encourage discussion and 

understanding as it relates to patient care [13]. For example, in one study, a cross-disciplinary 

approach for developing medical insight incorporated the use of visual arts with medical 

themes: following the evaluation of artwork, students self-reported the positive development 

of observation, decision-making, reflection, and confidence-building skills [14]. In another 

study, medical students who took part in an arts-based learning course noted enhancement of 

awareness in self, improvement in self-confidence and self-care, increased preparation for 

stress, and development of communication and team-building skills [15]. In a study where 

students created and presented original artwork based on interactions with individuals living 

with chronic diseases, creative art was found to impact personal growth, self-discovery, sense 

of community and collaboration skills [16]. Medical education studies such as these can help 

inform the development of research in pharmacy education that incorporate interdisciplinary 

activities, forming a nexus between art and science that could help future pharmacists develop 

important self-awareness and community-building tools.  

Recently revised education and accreditation standards in Pharmacy now include 

interdisciplinary and metacognition elements and programs such as PharmArt can help schools 

and colleges meet these requirements [17, 18]. At the RAIC, future research is planned to 



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determine the effect of art and creativity on professionalism, stress relief, and confidence in 

health professional students.  

References 

1. Frei, J, Alvarez, SE, Alexander MB. Ways of seeing: Using the visual arts in nursing education.  

Journal of Nursing Education. 2010;49(12):672-676. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20100831-04 

2. Jones EK, Kittendorf AL, Kumagai AK. Creative art and medical student development: A 

qualitative study. Medical Education. 2016;51:174-183. doi:10.1111/medu.13140 

3. Beals JB. Student art in the library juried exhibition program. Art Documentation: Bulletin of 

the Art Libraries Society of North America. 2007;26(1), 56-58. 

4. Shipman JP, Stoddart JM, Peay WJ, Eccles SS. Spaces that support redefined roles of 

academic health sciences librarians. Journal of the Medical Library Association. 2013;101(3), 

179-184. doi:10.3163/1536-5050.101.3.006 

5. Raskin H. Can an art gallery thrive in a science library? College & Research Libraries News. 

2009;70(4), 226-229. 

6. Buhler AG, Davis V. Elegance of science: Coordinating an annual scientific art contest at the 

library. College & Research Libraries News. 2010;71(5), 248-251. 

7. Auten B, Norton HF, Tennant MR, Edwards ME, Stoyan-Rosenzweig N, Daley M. Using NLM 

exhibits and events to engage library users and reach the community. Medical Reference 

Services Quarterly. 2013;32(3):266-289. 

8. Catalano M, Essinger C, Ferimer S, Lewin-Lane S, Vaughn P. At the center of things: How an 

academic library built a bridge between art and science on campus. Collaborative Librarianship. 

2017;9(2):90-96. 

9. McCullough I. Science outreach through art: A journal article cover gallery. Issues in Science 

and Technology Librarianship. 2015;81. doi:10.5062/F4CJ8BGG 

10. Oliver A. Strengthening on-campus relationships via an annual student art commission. 

Journal of Library Innovation. 2012;3(2):89-104. 



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11. Gomes A, Palena-Hall E, Abate L, Sullo E, Levett P, Wilcoxson M. Connecting to our 

community: Extending librarians' roles through collaboration. Journal of Hospital Librarianship. 

2011;11(2):165-174. 

12. Weise F. Being there: the library as place. Journal of the Medical Library 

Association.2004;92(1):6-13. 

13. Lake J, Jackson L, Hardman C. A fresh perspective on medical education: The lens of the arts. 

Medical Education. 2015;49:759-772. doi:10.1111/medu.12768 

14. Edmonds K, Hammond M. How can visual arts help doctors develop medical insight? 

International Journal of Art & Design Education. 2012;31(1):78-89. 

15. De la Croix A, Rose C, Wildig E, Willson S. Arts-based learning in medical education: The 

students’ perspective. Medical Education. 2011;45(11):1090-1100. 

16. Jones EK, Kittendorf AL, Kumagai AK. Creative art and medical student development: A 

qualitative study. Medical Education. 2017;51(2):174-183. 

17. Fjortoft N. The Challenge of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education’s Standard 

Four: Identifying, Teaching, Measuring. American Journal of Pharmacy Education. 

2016;80(5):73. 

18. ACPE. Accreditation standards and key elements for the professional program in pharmacy 

leading to the doctor of pharmacy degree. 2015. https://www.acpe-

accredit.org/pdf/Standards2016FINAL.pdf . Accessed September 1, 2017.

https://www.acpe-accredit.org/pdf/Standards2016FINAL.pdf
https://www.acpe-accredit.org/pdf/Standards2016FINAL.pdf


Research Section Spotlight 

 

   

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“Librarian’s Role in Reproducibility of Research” 2017 
Symposium: Research Section Stipend Winner Reflection 

Kimberly R. Powell, MLIS 
Life Sciences Informationist  
Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library  
Emory University  
Atanta, GA 

krpowel@emory.edu 

 

Introduction 
 

At the 117th Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the Medical Library Association (MLA) in 2017, 

eight sections of the association jointly sponsored a symposium entitled Librarian’s Role in 

Reproducibility of Research. The four hour symposium was held Saturday, May 27th as part of 

the MLA pre-conference activities. Shona Kirtley, Knowledge and Information Manager for the 

EQUATOR Network at the Centre for Statistics in Medicine at the University of Oxford, served as 

the keynote speaker.  Invited panelists discussed their roles in initiatives aimed to reduce the 

research waste caused by irreproducible reporting of scientific efforts within the published 

literature.  The four-hour symposium concluded with a hands-on brainstorming activity that 

asked each of the attendees to propose and reflect on increasing the reproducibility of 

science.  The following is a summary of the information shared and a reflection on the 

brainstorm suggestions made at the Librarian's Role in Reproducibility of Research 

Symposium.  A LibGuide for the event, including agenda and speaker slides are located at 

http://mlasymposium.libguides.com/c.php?g=584462&p=4036194.  

 

Defining the Reproducibility Crisis 
 

In March 2012, a commentary on the reproducibility of preclinical cancer studies was published 

in Nature.  This report by the company Amgen highlighted the disappointing success rate of 

translating basic science findings into clinical therapeutics, especially with regards to cancer 

studies. Amgen researchers conducted a review of 53 published studies finding only six (11%) of 

the results could be replicated [1]. This endorsed an earlier report from the pharmaceutical 

http://mlasymposium.libguides.com/c.php?g=584462&p=4036194


Research Section Spotlight 

 

   

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company Bayer that from a sample set of 67 published drug reports, only 20-25% were 

reproducible [2]. In response to these concerning observations, The Lancet launched a series of 

papers that discuss increasing the value and reducing research waste in the published 

literature, ultimately becoming The Lancet’s Reduce Research Waste and Reward Diligence 

(REWARD) Campaign in 2015. In 2016, Nature published survey results from 1,576 researchers, 

90% of whom affirmed a reproducibility crisis within the published literature [4].   

In 2015, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) released recommendations authored by 

the Subcommittee on Replicability in Science.  Among other findings, this report noted that 

many terms used to discuss the ability to replicate or generalize a study were applied 

inconsistently.  The report thereby offered the following definition:  

“Reproducibility refers to the ability of a researcher to duplicate the results of a prior 

study using the same materials and procedures as were used by the original investigator 

(…) Reproducibility is a minimum necessary condition for a finding to be believable and 

informative.” [3] 

This differs slightly from replicability, defined by the report as “the ability of a researcher to 

duplicate the results of a prior study if the same procedures are followed but new data are 

collected” [3]. In contrast, the Nature survey of researchers asked if respondents were able to 

reproduce results in a “similar experimental system” which “may include slight variations in 

methods or materials” [4]. Moving forward, as funders, publishers, researchers, librarians, and 

other stakeholders work to formulate strategies to address the concern, it will be important to 

work from a standard definition of the problem. Many approaches would conceivably impact 

both reproducibility and replicability; however, when discussing the scale of the crisis, and 

proposing focused solutions, it will be important to note the difference. 

 

Policies: What are funders and publishers doing to support reproducible research? 
 

Proposed solutions for increasing the reproducibility (and replicability) of the published 

literature can typically be broken into two main approaches: those that target data reporting 

and those that target process reports, or methodologies. Selective data sharing was cited as 

one of the top factors contributing to the crises by respondents of the Nature survey. Selective 

reporting may occur when authors publish a clean story, leaving out factors such as replicates 

that did not meet expectations, outliers, or statistical tests that did not show desired 



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results. Data sharing initiatives help address these selective pressures by requiring all 

underlying data of published summaries and visualizations be made available. This creates 

options for timely, independent verification and may limit exaggerated reporting. However to 

address the reproducibility crises rather than just re-use initiatives, more rigorous sharing of 

research design and data collection methods are also required.   

Funders of research have put together recommendations and guidelines in both these areas as 

seen by the NSF data sharing policy (https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp) and the NIH 

Rigor and Reproducibility web portal (https://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-

reproducibility). Additionally, organizations such as the Center for Open Science (COS) 

(https://cos.io/) in the U.S. and the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health 

Research (EQUATOR) Network (http://www.equator-network.org) in the U.K. also provide 

resources to address the process of sharing scientific findings. These organizations provide 

frameworks and guidelines for conducting and reporting reproducible scientific efforts. 

Guidelines and toolkits for reporting common study types are linked on the EQUATOR Network, 

while COS provides a framework for project management support, training, and updates on 

ongoing projects looking at field specific reproducibility issues.  

Journal publishers have also responded to the call for increased reproducibility, though most 

have focused on data sharing strategies. Science, Nature, Public Library of Science (PLoS), and 

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) have all established data sharing or 

data accessibility policies for their authors.  Authors in these journals are expected to share the 

data and statistics underlying their findings, preferably in a public domain repository.  The 

sharing of such data allows for both reproducibility and confirmatory actives as well as the 

reuse of data for new discoveries.   

Journal publishers focusing on the increased rigor of published methodologies have done so 

primarily by exploring new publication types. The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) has 

been a leader in this area, developing a publication module of instructional videos aimed to 

better communicate experimental processes.  As a panelist at the 2017 MLA Reproducibility 

Symposium, JoVE co-founder and CEO, Moshe Pritsker, noted that the classic structure of the 

journal article has remained largely unchanged since the first publication in 1665 and called 

emphatically for detailed methods as a stand-alone publication model [5]. Reinforcing his call, 

another panelist shared an example of the importance of robust materials reporting when a 

study found that variations in software version, workstation type (Mac or PC), and Mac 

https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp
https://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility
https://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility
https://cos.io/)
http://www.equator-network.org/


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operating system all had a significant impact on the analytic readings of 30 MRI scans [6]. When 

variables such as computer type and operating system are shown to play a role in reproducible 

data analysis, there is a clear need for more robust reporting than just product names. 

Registered reports offer another emerging publication type in support of reproducibility.  These 

are detailed study designs which undergo the peer-review process separate from the final study 

analysis.  Registered reports describe key methodologies such as experimental model, data 

collection instruments, and statistical methods used in the proposed analysis.  These are then 

reviewed for rigor and reproducibility before data are collected.  Currently, COS lists 52 journals 

which have adopted the publication of registered reports in some capacity.  Journals such as 

Royal Society Open Science and BMC Biology will then provisionally accept results for 

publication, contingent upon adherence to registered study design, regardless of study 

outcomes.  This slow shift in accepted publication types represents a positive cultural shift in 

the scientific community by placing emphasis on rigorous scientific processes rather than 

focusing solely on novel, positive results.  

 

Library Services: How can librarians support a culture of reproducible research? 
 

As Kirtley emphasizes in her 2016 The Lancet commentary, librarians are well posed to be part 

of the answer to managing the current reproducibility crisis [7]. Academic and medical 

librarians are familiar partners in the research lifecycle, from developing robust and 

comprehensive search strategies, to selecting a journal and assisting with data sharing and 

management plans.  Librarians who work on systematic review projects are intimately familiar 

with the challenges of adapting complex methods to new database environments. By attuning 

specific knowledge and services to the language and needs of addressing reproducibility, 

librarians are equipped to serve as advocates and partners.  Even traditional roles such as 

collection development and access training can be easily adapted to addressing reproducibility 

as it relates to growing the awareness, availability, and utilization of new publication types. 

Panelists at the 2017 MLA Reproducibility Symposium shared unique ways librarians at their 

institutions have contributed to creating reproducible research.  Cynthia Hudson-Vitale, at the 

University of Washington in St. Louis, works with the Institute for Clinical and Translational 

Sciences to establish a framework for reproducible methods when working with electronic 

health records (EHRs). Librarians collaborated with researchers to identify 103 variables needed 

to ensure the reproducibility of EHR analysis: beginning with stating a clear, focused hypothesis 



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through tracking query language with version notes and access dates, identifying statistical 

tests and packages, and reporting such specifics with standard documentation. All 103 variables 

would be needed in any resulting publications or data codebooks or the analyses could not be 

reliably replicated, regardless if the raw de-identified data is available and accessible. Bart 

Ragon from the University of Virginia and Kristi Holmes from Northwestern University, echoed 

the vital importance for librarians to offer collaborative support for open science and data 

management.   

To further explore actionable roles and services, participants at the Symposium completed a 

hands-on exercise in which each person was asked to propose a specific idea for librarian 

involvement and collaboration.  Ideas were then anonymously scored for how well the proposal 

resonated for an individual’s library and institution.  Collected from over the 30 responses, the 

highest scoring suggestions are listed below.  While specifics of each suggestion were not 

discussed at the Symposium, one possible interpretation of the proposal follows each 

participant idea.  

• Host “Reproduce-My-Research” Events 

Such outreach or training events may take many different approaches.  The idea seems to 

suggest giving researchers and students a formalized setting to reflect on and engage with 

each other specifically around how to improve the scientific reporting of their 

manuscripts.  As this was the high scoring suggestion, it clearly resonated with many 

librarians who saw inspiration in this event title within their institutional outreach even 

without further details. 

• Offer training to students and early career researchers 

Many libraries already provide training opportunities to gain a better understanding and 

engage with resources, publishers, and services.  Refocusing or adopting specific language 

to target reproducibility concerns may be an easy adaptation for services already in place.   

• Incorporate into the researcher workflow 

Again, many libraries already have collaborations or specific services targeting various 

aspects of the research lifecycle.  Emphasizing these services as essential for addressing the 

reproducibility crisis may further campus collaborations and refine librarian roles.  

• Establish data management best practices 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           37                                                                                

 

When working with data management strategies, many initial approaches supported by 

libraries may have been reactive to specific funder mandates.  By proactively establishing 

best practices in line with robust and reproducible science, librarians are natural champions 

of more accessible research and open data.  

• Educate Librarians 

By seeking out learning and professional networking opportunities such as the 2017 

Reproducibility Symposium, librarians are educating themselves about the problem, 

understanding researcher frustrations and emerging policies, and collaborating as a 

profession to explore targeted services.  Opportunities to brainstorm and share challenges 

and success stories are invaluable for the development of robust and innovative services.  

• Collaborate with institutional offices 

Collaboration is implied in many of the top-scoring suggestions.  Continued outreach to 

researcher groups and campus partners will be essential to the recognition of librarians as 

part of the solution. 

• Provide high-quality, reproducible search results 

For those librarians working on systematic reviews or providing in depth reference support, 

this is an opportunity to lead by example.  Providing details of the search query along with 

specifics such as database coverage, search date and applied filters, raises subtle awareness 

of the necessity of these details.  This may then provide the opportunity for discussion of 

similar essentials when reporting results.     

The majority of these high scoring responses reflect activities and services already underway, 

with some variation, at many academic libraries. By educating librarians and raising awareness 

among researchers in the specific areas of reproducible research, many library services can be 

easily adapted to address the reproducibility crises. Hosting additional symposiums and 

workshops around the topic will encourage other librarians to share the specific services and 

outreach initiatives that have been successful.        

 

 



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References 

1. Begley CG, Ellis LM. Drug development: Raise standards for preclinical cancer research. 

Nature. 2012;483(7391), 531-533.  

2. Prinz F, Schlange T, Asadullah K. Believe it or not: how much can we rely on published data 

on potential drug targets? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2011;10(9), 712-712.  

3. Bollen K, Cacioppo JT, Kaplan RM, Krosnick JA, Olds JL, Dean H. Reproducibility, replicability, 

and generalization in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. 2015. Retrieved from 

https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/SBE_Spring_2015_AC_Meeting_Presentations/Bollen_Report_on_Re

plicability_SubcommitteeMay_2015.pdf  

4. Baker M. 1,500 scientists lift the lid on reproducibility. Nature. 2016;533(7604), 452-454. 

doi:10.1038/533452a 

5. Pritsker M. The Science Reproducibility Crisis:  how librarians can solve it and why they 

should care? Paper presented at the The Librarian's Role in Reproducibity of Research 

Symposium, Seattle, WA. 2017. 

6. Gronenschild EHBM, Habets P, Jacobs HIL, Mengelers R, Rozendaal N, van Os J, Marcelis M. 

The Effects of FreeSurfer Version, Workstation Type, and Macintosh Operating System Version 

on Anatomical Volume and Cortical Thickness Measurements. PLOS ONE. 2012;7(6), e38234. 

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038234  

7. Kirtley S. Increasing value and reducing waste in biomedical research: librarians are listening 

and are part of the answer. The Lancet. 2016;387(10028), 1601. 

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30241-0 

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https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/SBE_Spring_2015_AC_Meeting_Presentations/Bollen_Report_on_Replicability_SubcommitteeMay_2015.pdf
https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/SBE_Spring_2015_AC_Meeting_Presentations/Bollen_Report_on_Replicability_SubcommitteeMay_2015.pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30241-0


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MLA 2017 Research Section Research Awards  

Congratulations to the Winning Research Papers and Posters from MLA ’17! 

The MLA Research Section is pleased to announce the winners for best research papers and 

posters presented at the MLA 2017 annual meeting in Seattle, WA. Thank you to the 57 judges 

who volunteered their expertise to help select these deserving awardees. To learn more about 

the awards and selection process, visit the Research Section website at 

http://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=938. 

 

Contributed Papers 
 

1st Place 
Authors: Christy Jarvis, AHIP, Head of Information Resources and Digital Initiatives, University 

of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Melissa Rethlefsen, AHIP, Deputy Director / Associate Librarian, 

Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, Salt Lake City, UT 

Title: Daring to Dive Deep into the Citation Data: Going Head to Head with SciHub 

Abstract: 

Objectives: To analyze the extent to which the library is fulfilling the information needs of its 

patrons in light of recent data showing heavy usage of SciHub in [our metro city] and 

specifically to gain insight into the percentage of referenced resources and content areas that 

were not made available to researchers through library funded subscriptions. 

 

Methods: Using Scopus, we identified papers published by the institution’s health sciences 

faculty in each of the previous 5 years. Papers co-authored by researchers at other institutions 

were excluded in order to focus the analysis solely on information resources available to 

scholars at the target institution. The citations from the resulting set of publications were 

extracted to spreadsheets, where they were subjected to a data normalization process. 

Incomplete or obviously erroneous references were removed. The remaining set of citations 

was sorted alphabetically by journal title, then secondarily by citation year. Using a combination 

of data sources, including publisher entitlement reports, catalog records, and previously 

downloaded holdings reports, we compared each citation to the library’s collection at year of 

http://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=938


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citation to determine if access to the cited resource was provided and paid for by the library.  

 

Results: Published literature authored by University of Utah health sciences faculty between 

2012 and 2016 yielded 119,794 citations for analysis.  The libraries had print or electronic 

access to 99,298 (82.89%) of these cited resources.  Another 9,220 (7.7%) were accessible from 

open access platforms, leaving only 11,084 (9.25%) citations that needed to be obtained from 

other sources, such as interlibrary loan, pay-per-view, or illegitimate sites such as Sci-Hub. Of 

the cited, but not provided, literature, 26% comes from backfile content whereas 74% comes 

from more recently published work. Identified collection gaps include the disciplines of 

Neurology, Cardiology, and Oncology. 

 

Conclusion: A comprehensive evaluation of health sciences author citations over a 5-year period 

demonstrated that the vast majority were available from library-funded resources, thereby 

suggesting that the library’s collection has been adequately meeting the needs of researchers 

and scholars. This study provides valuable insight into faculty information-seeking behaviors 

and has implications for future collection development, service offerings, and funding priorities 

within the library.  Further study is needed to explore correlations between library-funded 

access to cited resources and other university metrics such as faulty recruitment and grant 

funding, as well as to investigate purported Sci-Hub activity in light of our findings. 

 

2nd Place 
Authors: Joanne Marshall, AHIP, FMLA, Research Professor, School of Information and Library 

Science Chapel Hill, NC; Amber Wells, Doctoral Graduate, Dept of Sociology, Chapel Hill, NC; 

Kathel Dunn, Associate Fellowship Program Director, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, 

MD; Joyce Backus, Associate Director for Library Operations, National Library of Medicine, 

Bethesda, MD 

Title: The Role of MEDLINE in Patient Care: Results of a Secondary Analysis of the Value of 

Libraries Study 

Abstract: 

Objectives: What role does the MEDLINE database play in relation to other information 

resources that are available to health care providers? What is the role of MEDLINE in positively 

impacting patient care? Since health care providers use multiple information resources in 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           41                                                                                

 

providing patient care, what is the specific role of MEDLINE? 

 

Methods: A previous survey on the use of health information resources for patient care 

obtained 16,122 responses from 56 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. The study asked 

respondents to indicate resources used in answering specific clinical questions. On average, 

respondents reported using 3.5 resources to answer their question. This analysis used advanced 

descriptive statistics and regression analysis to examine the specific information resources used 

and how they were used in combination with one another. The use of more resources was 

associated with more changes made to patient care and increased avoidance of adverse events. 

MEDLINE was more likely to be among the resources consulted than any other information 

resource except journals. The analysis reported in this paper provides new insights into how 

MEDLINE is used in conjunction with other resources to answer clinical questions. 

 

Results: Our additional analysis of the Value Study data found that MEDLINE and online journals 

were the two most frequently used information resources. Respondents reported using an 

average of 3.5 resources when seeking additional information related to a specific patient care 

decision making situation. Using more information resources was associated with improved 

clinical decision making and a higher probability of  making changes to patient care and 

avoiding adverse events. MEDLINE was most likely to be among the combinations of 

information resources used by physicians, residents and nurses.  

 

Conclusion: MEDLINE continues to be a key information resource for health care providers as 

they seek answers to patient care questions. The MEDLINE database is also used in the 

preparation of many other specialized health information resources and point of care 

information tools. Since health professionals use multiple information resources, libraries and 

librarians continue to have an important role in providing access to and supporting the use of a 

wide range of information tools.  

 

Honorable Mention 

Authors: Tanja Bekhuis, AHIP, Principal Scientist, TCB Research & Indexing LLC, Pittsburgh, PA 

Title: Training in Support of Data-Driven Research: A Qualitative Study of Library Workshops in 

Top National Institutes of Health-Funded and National Science Foundation-Funded Universities 



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Abstract: 

Objectives: In an age of data-driven research and competitive funding, libraries help their 

patrons acquire new skills. To do so, some offer workshops about knowledge discovery, 

analysis, and management of various kinds of data. The primary objective of this qualitative 

study was to explore the nature of workshops offered by libraries to support data-driven 

research in top NIH- and NSF-funded universities. Additionally, we developed a catalog of 

workshops, and indexed the resources and thematic content. 

Methods: To identify top-funded universities, we used NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting 

Tools and the NSF Budget Internet Information System. From corresponding websites, we 

extracted information on 99 workshops offered by health sciences libraries (n=5) and main 

libraries (n=5) in schools funded by NIH and NSF, respectively. Workshop title, duration, and 

description were catalogued by library and source of federal funding for the university. We 

used NVivo 11 Pro (QSR International) for qualitative data analysis and TExtract® (TEXYZ) to 

semi-automate indexing the content of the catalog. Themes were first identified in textual 

patterns and then were refined by an analyst. Thematic overlap was described across funding 

source. Additionally, we identified themes unique to each subset. 

Results: Main libraries in NSF-funded schools offered 36% more workshops than health sciences 

libraries in NIH-funded schools (57 vs 42). Overall workshop duration ranged from 1 to 16 hours 

in a bimodal distribution (1st mode = 1 hour; 2nd mode = 3 hours). The distribution of duration 

for NSF schools differed from the NIH distribution. We identified 15 main themes 

overall: statistical programming and data visualization occurred most often, and finding funds 

for research and open science least often. Thematic distributions varied with funding source. 

For example, bioinformatics occurred most often in the NIH-funded subset and statistical 

programming in the NSF subset. For each subset, 20 most informative indexing terms were 

identified after sorting and discretizing into 7 quantiles. Top indexing terms included: data 

visualization, pathway analysis, and data management (NIH schools); data analysis, data 

management plan (DMP), and Python (NSF schools). 

 

Conclusion: A catalog of workshops organized by university funding source and library, along 

with 2 indexes (resource and subject), will be publicly available. The analytical results, as well as 

index content, yield insights regarding workshop coverage. Implications for strategic planning 

and development of library workshops in support of data-driven research will be discussed. 



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Contributed Posters 
 

1st Place 
Authors: Angela Spencer, Manager, C. Alan McAfee MD Medical Library, Chesterfield, MO; 

Elizabeth Laera, Medical Librarian, Brookwood Baptist Health, Birmingham, AL; Halyna 

Liszczynskyj, Director, Library Services, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Utica, NY; Louise 

McLaughlin, Information Specialist, Woman's Health Sciences Library, Baton Rouge, LA; Kathy 

Zeblisky, Medical Library Manager, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 

Title: Solo Librarians: Demographics, Duties, Needs, and Challenges 

Abstract: 

Objective: To obtain data on how many librarians classify themselves as solo librarians within a 

medical/hospital setting.  Solo librarians constantly face challenges to maintain and expand 

services vital to their users.  By quantifying their number and needs, a stronger voice can be 

developed. 

 

Methods: A ten question survey using SurveyMonkey was sent to various medical library 

related listservs of interest to solo librarians. 

 

Results: 383 surveys were returned, the majority from hospital and academic librarians.  Other 

settings include clinics, organizations, research institutions and Veteran’s institutions.  Duties 

showed the variety of hats a solo can wear.  Duties included: reference, interlibrary loan, 

teaching, committee work, website development, marketing, creating policies/procedures, 

writing grants, archives, informatics and other work.  The “best challenges” question was the 

most insightful into what the needs are for solos.  Major challenges included: funding/budget, 

awareness/visibility, time management, value/ROI/proving your worth, staffing, space, 

promotion/marking/outreach, professional development, technology and organizational 

mergers. 

 

Discussion: The full survey results quantify the size of the solo librarian population, and the 

contributions and challenges they face working in solo settings.  This data can contribute useful 

information to discussions on best ways to support, educate, inform and advocate for this 



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population. 

 

Conclusion/Next Steps: Solo Librarians are faced with similar financial, marketing and 

operational challenges regardless of setting. We hope to encourage peers to share their 

challenges and concerns and work with NN/LM and MLA to educate them about solo librarians’ 

needs and concerns so that we can sustain our future. 

2nd Place 
Authors: Nicole Theis-Mahon, Liaison to the School of Dentisty & HSL Collections Coordinator, 

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Shanda Hunt, Public Health Library Liaison & Data 

Curation Specialist, Health Sciences Libraries, Minneapolis, MN 

Title: My Doctor Said What!? Identifying and Assessing Online Health Information Resources 

Abstract: 

Objectives: Health information consumers look to the Internet to find answers to questions 

about their health or that of a loved one. We conducted a study to identify where individuals 

find online health information, how they use it, and what they think is missing. Results from this 

study are being used to make recommendations of how to improve services to this population. 

 

Methods: The University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries conducted a cross-sectional 

study of adults in August 2016. The survey instrument was adapted from the eHealth Literacy 

Scale (eHEALS) and the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), administered electronically on 

tablets at the Minnesota State Fair, and took approximately six minutes to complete. 

Convenience sampling yielded a total of 281 participants. Analysis of descriptive statistics and 

statistics to explore relationships between variables were conducted using R, and a qualitative 

analysis of one survey item was conducted using NVivo.  

 

Results/Conclusion: Preliminary results show that a majority of participants use a search engine, 

such as Google, WebMD, or the Mayo Clinic website, to locate online health information. While 

most respondents were confident in their ability to evaluate the health resources they find 

online, only half identified indicators of quality health information. This result was confounded 

by the high number of participants who were health providers. Participants identified 

personalization of and interactivity with health websites as highly desirable. 

 



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Honorable Mention 
Authors: Hannah Norton, Interim Fackler Director, Associate University Librarian, University of 

Florida, Gainesville, FL; Mary Edwards, Reference & Liaison Librarian, Health Science Center 

Library, Gainesville, FL; Ariel Pomputius, Health Sciences Liaison Librarian, Health Science 

Center Library, Gainesville, FL; Michele Tennant , Interim Fackler Director, Health Science 

Center Libraries, Gainesville, FL 

Title: Tracking Tech Trends: Studying Patron Technology Use through Annual Surveying 

Abstract: 

Objectives: At an academic health sciences library serving students, faculty, and staff across a 

wide variety of disciplines, studying library patrons’ technology use, particularly in areas of 

mobile technology, provides necessary information on intersection points for library 

services.  Administering a similar survey annually for five years generates a holistic view of 

patrons’ technology needs and preferences over time. 

 

Methods: Beginning in 2012, the University of Florida (UF) Health Science Center Library (HSCL) 

began administering a 16-question survey designed by the University of Southern California 

Norris Medical Library to address technology use of health professional students and faculty 

and their interest in related library services.  For three years we participated in a multi-

institution implementation of this survey; when the collaboration ended, we continued to 

administer the survey at UF. While some questions have been modified over time for clarity or 

changes in available technology, many are consistent across the five years of survey 

implementation, allowing analysis of trends over time in use of specific technologies and 

service needs at our institution.  

 

Results: Smartphone ownership among survey respondents is nearly universal (ranging from 

87.6% to 95.7% over the past 5 years), and a majority of respondents also own a tablet (from 

51.1% to 70.2%).  While respondents were likely to check library hours, use medical apps, and 

use library electronic resources from their smartphone or tablet, they reported being unlikely 

to friend or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter or send a call number from the 

catalog.  One simple change implemented in response to survey results was to add the library’s 

hours to the “Quick Links” portion of the library’s website; while the hours are featured on 

other parts of the site, the Quick Links are the most prominent portion of the site’s mobile 

version.  Likewise, when survey data indicated that respondents were highly interested in 



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Hypothesis, vol. 29, no. 2, Fall/Winter 2017                                                                           46                                                                                

 

training on mobile device apps, the HSCL developed a stand-alone workshop entitled “Mobile 

Resources for Health.”  Trends that have not yet been explored further include respondents’ 

preference for print books for both academic (53.1% to 57.3%) and leisure (53.2% to 55.2%) 

reading, as compared to ebooks. 

 

Conclusions: Annual review of survey results has led to incremental changes in services 

offered.  Reviewing the aggregate data allows for more strategic consideration of future 

directions, with implications towards marketing the library’s resources, training development, 

and service development. 

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	About the Publication
	Submission Deadlines
	Submission Criteria
	Reference Style
	Hypothesis content types
	Copyright
	What’s our story? And how can you help tell it?
	Welcome from Research Section Chair (2017-18 term)
	Rising Stars Research Projects 2016-2017: Action Research to Improve MLA’s Communities
	Introduction
	Conclusion

	Assess the structure, procedures, and operation of the MLA Section Council and propose changes that better serve the Council purpose and enable it to determine if it is successful in realizing its purpose
	Rachel C. Lerner
	Assess the relevance of the current (Summer 2016) strategic goals of Sections to MLA members and the health information profession and propose an initiative to improve relevance
	Tony Nguyen
	Assess how well the topical coverage of MLA Sections and SIGs address the needs of MLA’s primary audiences and propose an initiative to improve coverage
	Phill Jo
	Assess SIG membership requirements and guidelines and propose new requirements and guidelines
	Gregg A. Stevens
	References
	Art Show Paints a Collaborative Picture: Increasing Engagement in a Pharmacy and Health Sciences Library
	Abstract
	Introduction
	Objective
	Literature Review
	Methods
	Results
	Discussion
	Limitations
	Future Directions

	References
	“Librarian’s Role in Reproducibility of Research” 2017 Symposium: Research Section Stipend Winner Reflection
	Introduction
	Defining the Reproducibility Crisis
	Policies: What are funders and publishers doing to support reproducible research?
	Library Services: How can librarians support a culture of reproducible research?

	References
	---
	MLA 2017 Research Section Research Awards
	Contributed Papers
	1st Place
	2nd Place
	Honorable Mention

	Contributed Posters
	1st Place
	2nd Place
	Honorable Mention


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