Short presentation at the Information Literacy of the Gulf Cooperating Council Spring Symposium at New York University in Abu Dhabi, March 8th 2018

1. Implementing Systematic Review Services at
Academic Libraries, a Door Opener to IL Collaborations
❖ Systematic reviews (SRs) are research synthesis with a high level
of evidence
❖ Originates from the field of medicine and evidence- based practice
❖ The SR methodology has recently started to gain popularity
outside the field of medicine (education, sociology, psychology,
management, LIS etc.)
❖ Three times more SRs indexed in SCOPUS 2017 compared to
2012… and counting
❖ A unique opportunity for academic libraries to add a new, profiled
research service and put the library “on the map”
Linda Östlundh, Library Director

2. The Librarians’ Role and Impact on Systematic Reviews
❖ Increases the search
precision and the result
quality
❖ Saves time
❖ Increases the quality of the
reporting method
❖ Reduces the risk of bias
Role Impact
❖ Consultant (methods, resources,
publications etc.)
❖ Co-researcher (protocol prep.,
systematic search and documentation,
document management, writing the
methodology part of the paper etc.)
❖Educator (tool and resource
demonstration and support for the
team)

3. SR- A Door Opener to Increased Information Literacy
Collaboration Opportunities
❖ Co –authoring and/or supporting SR:s gives unique”just in time”
opportunities to demonstrate and promote resources, tools,
services and librarians’ full professional knowledge
❖ Librarian’s being a part of the entire research process leads to
more embedded, visible librarians
❖ Faculty and researchers increase their understanding of
librarians’ full competences
❖ Librarian’s develop (re)search, subject and teamwork
skills and gain deeper understanding of patrons’ needs
Linda Östlundh, Library Director

4. References
Gore, G. C., & Jones, J. (2015). Systematic reviews and librarians: a
primer for managers. Partnership: The Canadian journal of library
and information practice and research, 10(1), 1.
Meert, D., Torabi, N., & Costella, J. (2016). Impact of librarians on
reporting of the literature searching component of pediatric
systematic reviews. J Med Libr Assoc, 104(4), 267-277.
doi:10.3163/1536-5050.104.4.004
Spencer, A. J., & Eldredge, J. D. (2018). Roles for librarians in
systematic reviews: a scoping review. J Med Libr Assoc, 106(1), 46-56.
doi:10.5195/jmla.2018.82
Linda Östlundh, Library Director