The document summarizes a study on Finnish health information professionals' views on European cooperation. A questionnaire was sent to members of the Finnish Medical Library Association, with 55 responses received. The responses showed that collegial peer support, sharing teaching materials and experiences, and continuing education were highly important. Respondents also felt that health information professionals need to better promote their services. Overall, the study's findings suggest that European cooperation could benefit health information professionals through knowledge sharing, practical solutions, and preparing for new challenges.

1. Sharing to learn, learning to
share : co-operation among
health information professionals
Tiina Heino
Katri Larmo
Leena Lodenius
Tuulevi Ovaska
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy

2. Objectives
• Finnish health information professionals'
views on European cooperation
• Evidence-based information about importance
• Collaboration could
– create synergy
– share practical solutions
– empower health information professionals to
meet new challenges
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy

3. Methods
• questionnaire emailed to all BMF members
• 55 answers
– 64 % of BMF employed members (86)
– 51 % of all BMF members (107)
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy

4. Importance of collegial peer support:
5: n=45 (82 %)
4: n=10 (18 %)
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy

5. Sharing teaching materials
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=29 (53 %)
4: n=20 (36 %)
3: n=6 (11 %)

6. Sharing experiences about good
practices in teaching and training
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=36 (65 %)
4: n=15 (27 %)
3: n=3 (5 %)
2: n=1 (3 %)

7. Cooperation in marketing
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=7 (13 %)
4: n=27 (49 %)
3: n=13 (24 %)
2: n=7 (13 %)

8. Cooperation in branding of services
and creating service concepts
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=12 (22 %)
4: n=20 (36 %)
3: n=14 (25 %)
2: n=8 (15 %)
1: n=1 (2 %)

9. Link list of continuing education
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=18 (33 %)
4: n=20 (36 %)
3: n=16 (29 %)
2: n=1 (2 %)

10. Information about job exchange, job
opportunities and internship
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=10 (18 %)
4: n=25 (45 %)
3: n=17 (31 %)
2: n=2 (4 %)
1: n=1 (2 %)

11. Mapping and embracing new
challenges
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=28 (51 %)
4: n=20 (36 %)
3: n=5 (9 %)
2: n=2 (4 %)

12. Cooperation with universities'
information research departments
and educational organizations
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy
5: n=18 (33 %)
4: n=21 (38 %)
3: n=13 (24 %)
2: n=2 (4 %)
1: n=1 (1 %)

13. Conclusions
• Collegial peer support, sharing
teaching material and good practices
are regarded very important
• Library professionals must learn to
brand and sell their services
• Professional continuing education
and keeping up to date is crucial
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy

14. Suggestions
• EAHIL and its members can
–list mentors
–share and develop materials
–set up tools for cooperation and
collaboration
• Similar surveys in other European
countries?
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy

15. Thank you!
Tiina Heino
tiina.m.heino@helsinki.fi
Terkko – Meilahti Campus Library, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Katri Larmo
katri.larmo@helsinki.fi
Terkko – Meilahti Campus Library, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Leena Lodenius
leena.lodenius@duodecim.fi
Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Helsinki, Finland
Tuulevi Ovaska
tuulevi.ovaska@uef.fi
Kuopio University Hospital Medical Library, University of Eastern Finland
Library, Kuopio, Finland
14th EAHIL 2014 Conference 11-13 June, Rome, Italy