Evidence based library and information practice
Encyclopedia
Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) or evidence based librarianship (EBL) is the application of the interdisciplinary approach known as evidence-based practice (EBP) to problems in the field of library and information science
(LIS). This means that all practical decisions maken within LIS should 1) be based on research studies and 2) that these research studies are selected and interpreted according to some specific norms characteristic for EBP. Typically such norms disregards theoretical studies and qualitative studies and consider quantitative studies according to a narrow set of criteria of what counts as evidence. If such a narrow set of methodological criteria are not applied, it is better instead to speak of research based library and information practice.
approach; EBLIP is therefore also a positivist approach to LIS. As such, EBLIP is an approach in contrast to other approaches to LIS. The use of statistical approaches known as metaanalysis to conclude what evidence has been reported in the literature is one among other methods which is typical for the evidence-based approach.
Library and information science
Library and information science is a merging of the two fields library science and information science...
(LIS). This means that all practical decisions maken within LIS should 1) be based on research studies and 2) that these research studies are selected and interpreted according to some specific norms characteristic for EBP. Typically such norms disregards theoretical studies and qualitative studies and consider quantitative studies according to a narrow set of criteria of what counts as evidence. If such a narrow set of methodological criteria are not applied, it is better instead to speak of research based library and information practice.
Characteristics
Evidence-based practice in general has been characterised as a positivistPositivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
approach; EBLIP is therefore also a positivist approach to LIS. As such, EBLIP is an approach in contrast to other approaches to LIS. The use of statistical approaches known as metaanalysis to conclude what evidence has been reported in the literature is one among other methods which is typical for the evidence-based approach.
The role of library and information science in EBP
Evidence based practice in general is based on a very thorough search of the scientific literature and a very through selection and analysis of the retrieved literature. A close familiarity with database searching is needed, and library and information professionals have important roles to play in this respect. Therefore LIS-professionals should be well suited to help professionals in other other disciplines doing EBP. EBLIP is the application of this approach on LIS itself. It should be mentioned, however, that EBP started in medicine as evidence-based medicine (EBM) from which it spread to other fields. Only slowly and to a limited extent has EBP moved on to LIS.See also
- Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (journal)Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (journal)Evidence Based Library and Information Practice is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal covering evidence based library and information practice...
- Meta-analysisMeta-analysisIn statistics, a meta-analysis combines the results of several studies that address a set of related research hypotheses. In its simplest form, this is normally by identification of a common measure of effect size, for which a weighted average might be the output of a meta-analyses. Here the...
- Systematic reviewSystematic reviewA systematic review is a literature review focused on a research question that tries to identify, appraise, select and synthesize all high quality research evidence relevant to that question. Systematic reviews of high-quality randomized controlled trials are crucial to evidence-based medicine...
Further reading
- Booth, A. & Brice, A. (Eds.) (2004). Evidence-Based Practice for Information Professionals: A Handbook. London: Facet Publishing.
- Burrows SC & Tylman V (1999). Evaluating medical student searches of MEDLINE for evidence-based information: process and application of results. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association, 87(4), 471-476.
- Dalrymple, Prudence W.(2010) Evidence-Based Practice, Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Third Edition, Vol. III, 1790-1796.
- Eldredge JD (2000). Evidence-based librarianship: an overview. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association, 88(4), 289-302.
- Eldredge J (2002). Cohort studies in health sciences librarianship. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 90(4), 380-392.
- Kloda LA; Koufogiannakis D. & Mallan K. (2011). Transferring evidence into practice: what evidence summaries of library and information studies research tell practitioners. Information ResearchInformation Research (journal)Information Research is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal, covering research across a wide range of information-related disciplines, especially library and information science. It is published by T.D. Wilson with support from Lund University Libraries and from the Swedish School of...
, 2011, V 16, N1 (MAR), Article Number: 465. - Lewis S (2011). Evidence based library and information practice in Australia: defining skills and knowledge. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 2011, V 28, N2 (JUN), p. 152-155.
- Urquhart C (2010). Systematic reviewing, meta-analysis and meta-synthesis for evidence-based library and information science. Information Research, 15(3,S), Article Number: colis708.