





































Research Project Spotlight 
Spencer 

   

Hypothesis, vol. 30, no. 1, Fall/Winter 2018                                                                          6                                  

 

Health Sciences Library Closings: Overview and 
Background 
 

Angela Spencer, AHIP 
Librarian 

St. Luke’s Hospital 

Saint Louis, MO 
angela.spencer@stlukes-stl.com 
 

Many libraries across the United States have closed and other libraries are facing closure. 

A recent study of health sciences library closings [1] found that from 1989-2006 

approximately 23-34% of U.S. health sciences libraries closed. Furthermore, between 

2011 and 2015, 613 libraries closed, for an average of 115 closings per year [2]. But why? 

What was the rationale for these closings? Was the decision based solely on economic 

reasons, or were there other underlying factors? How will providers who lack library 

services fill their information needs and how can the closing of additional libraries be 

prevented?  

A group of health sciences librarians, herein known as the Health Sciences Library Study 

Group (HSLSG) representing both academic and hospital librarians was informally 

organized in 2017 to address these issues. The HSLSG believes there is a lack of 

substantive data on why libraries are closing.  Thus, during the 2018 annual meeting of 

the Medical Library Association (MLA) held in Atlanta, Georgia, the Hospital Libraries 

Section, and the Outreach and Marketing Special Interest Group organized a Special 

Content Session to share information, and gather ideas and information from interested 

MLA members.   

The HSLSG’s goal is to seek funding to conduct a comprehensive, substantive study to 

enable the healthcare community to understand why U.S. health sciences libraries are 

closing, and what the consequences of the closings will be.  We also seek to prevent the 

closing of additional health sciences libraries. Some of the questions we hope to answer 

are: 

1. Why are health sciences libraries being closed? 

a. What was the rationale for the closing? 

b. Was the decision based solely on economic reasons, or were there other 

underlying motives? 

2. What will be the effect of closing libraries on healthcare providers, learners, and 

patients? 

3. How will providers who lack library services fill their information needs? 



Research Project Spotlight 
Spencer 

   

Hypothesis, vol. 30, no. 1, Fall/Winter 2018                                                                          7                                  

 

4. How are models of library services and medical information delivery evolving 

without a library? 

The project’s overarching goal will be to gather information to define a new strategic 

vision for the roles and responsibilities of the practicing health sciences librarian and 

build on the National Library of Medicine’s Strategic Plan, 2017-2027. We are looking for 

people who can work with us on research, data analysis, and statistics. 

To participate, please contact Angela Spencer, angela.spencer@stlukes-stl.com or 

angspencer730@gmail.com 

Works cited 

1. Schwartz DG, Elkin PL. Health sciences library closings: a context sensitive pilot study. 

Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 2017;241: 21-27. DOI: 10.3233/978-1-

61499-794-8-21. 

2. Thibodeau PL, Funk CJ. Trends in hospital librarianship and hospital library services: 

1989 to 2006. Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 2009;97(4): 273. DOI: 

10.3163%2F1536-5050.97.4.011. 

 

 
National Library of Medicine (US). Digital Collections [Internet]. Bethesda (MD):  Early medical 

library, from Oeconomus prudens et legalis,1722. Available from: 

http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101438987

mailto:angela.spencer@stlukes-stl.com
mailto:angspencer730@gmail.com

