The WHO COVID-19 database provides over 120,000 citations on COVID-19 that is growing, including preprints. It has over 100,000 users in September with 3500 active daily users. Feedback shows it is used widely by institutions and researchers. The WHO is collaborating with other organizations to identify COVID-19 evidence and make literature more accessible globally with common standards. During the pandemic, the WHO library experienced a dramatic increase in workload on new projects like the COVID database. Most staff transitioned to working remotely which was challenging but increased remote access to resources.

2. 2
EAHIL
Public Health
Special Interest Group
(PHIG)
EAHIL 2020

3. 3
WHO COVID-19
Database
WHO COVID-19 DATABASE
UPDATE
BACKGROUND
Global multilingual scientific literature
Capturing numerous worldwide resources (Chinese, Russian & Japanese)
Shorten time-lag between publication and inclusion in indexing DBs
CONTENT
120000 citations and growing
Preprints now included . Next phase inclusion of ICTRP clinical trials
Increase quality control (Language, inclusion of abstracts)
USAGE
Over 100,000 users in September / 3500+ active users/day
User feedback show high end users / institutional use versus casual use

4. 4
WHO COVID-19
Database
WHO COVID-19 RETRIEVAL DISCUSSION GROUP
UPDATE
BACKGROUND
Meetings organized by GOARN Volunteer Library Corps focused on
collaborating/coordinating issues around identifying and organizing health
literature research.
PREPRINT SERVER
Outcome: To approach the preprint servers partners to address these
concerns with common standards and solutions.
• Identifying original research
• Screening for broad study types
• Exporting batches in RIS, CSV, and XML
Statement in final phases of consultation
Collaborations
Epistemonikos Foundation and WHO to cooperate on identification of COVID
evidence (WHO expertise in a global search & Epistemonikos expertise in
automation)

5. 5
Observations
during
COVID-19
from
WHO
Library
Perspective
Dramatic increase in workload
New projects « WHO COVID-19 DB »
Parallel Guideline Group (Rapid Reviews)
Increase in remote access
Over 80 % staff working from home
Transition to working in a virual environment
Requests for specialised training
Clinical Librarianship in a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern
Equity in accessing information – Leveling the
field of access to resources and training

6. 6
Lessons
Learned
during
COVID-19
From our perspective as (Public Health) Librarians
• What can we learn from the last 11 months?
• How can we better respond to the next pandemic?
• How can we better collaborate?
• How can we avoid duplication?
• What were your biggest challenges during this
period ?
• What would you do to reduce these challenge?
• What was a positive outcome ?
GlobalHealthLibrary@who.int