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Happy National Medical Librarians Month! Every October, we recognize and honor the hardworking individuals who keep our medical libraries running smoothly and provide invaluable support to healthcare professionals. This month-long celebration was first established in 2004 by the Medical Library Association as a way to highlight the important role that medical librarians play in promoting access to high-quality health information. So let's take a moment to thank these dedicated professionals for all they do to improve patient care and advance medical research.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Dawn of Medical Libraries</div><div class='timeline-text'>Medical libraries began to form in the 19th century, with the collections of medical books and journals primarily intended for medical professionals and researchers.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1898</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Formation of Library Association</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Medical Library Association (MLA) was founded to facilitate the exchange of ideas and improvements in the field of medical librarianship.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1945</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Library of Medicine Establishment</div><div class='timeline-text'>The National Library of Medicine, the world's largest biomedical library, was officially established providing valuable resources to health professionals worldwide.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1974</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Introduction of MEDLINE</div><div class='timeline-text'>MEDLINE, a database of life sciences and biomedical bibliographic information, was developed by the National Library of Medicine, facilitating research work for medical librarians.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Digital Era Transition</div><div class='timeline-text'>Along with the digital era, medical libraries transitioned to adopt Internet technologies, providing online databases, e-journals, and digital resources to their patrons.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2004</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Medical Librarians Month</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Medical Library Association established the observance of National Medical Librarians Month during the month of October to honor these essential professionals.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a virtual book club</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your fellow medical librarians and organize a virtual book club! Choose a book related to the field of medical librarianship and have discussions about it throughout the month. </p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a conference or workshop</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Check out any virtual conferences or workshops happening during National Medical Librarians Month. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, network with other medical librarians, and celebrate the profession.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a social media campaign</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spread awareness about National Medical Librarians Month by creating a social media campaign. Share interesting facts, stories, and resources related to the profession to educate and engage others.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a webinar or presentation</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Share your knowledge and expertise by organizing a webinar or presentation on a topic related to medical librarianship. This is a great way to showcase the important role of medical librarians in the healthcare field.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Recognize and appreciate your colleagues</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take the time to recognize and appreciate your colleagues during National Medical Librarians Month. This can be through a simple thank you note, a small gift, or a shoutout on social media. Let them know how much their hard work and dedication is valued.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>They provide invaluable support to healthcare professionals</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Medical librarians play a crucial role in providing access to accurate and up-to-date information for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. They help them make informed decisions that can ultimately improve patient care and outcomes.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>They promote lifelong learning and education</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Medical librarians encourage continuous learning and professional development among healthcare professionals by providing access to educational resources and offering training sessions on information retrieval and management. This helps to ensure that healthcare providers stay updated with the latest advancements in their field.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>They are essential for evidence-based medicine</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Medical librarians are trained to critically evaluate sources of medical information and determine their reliability. This is crucial for practicing evidence-based medicine, which involves making treatment decisions based on the best available scientific evidence. Without medical librarians, it would be difficult for healthcare professionals to discern reputable sources from unreliable ones.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Medical Librarians are Trained in Specialized Databases</h3><p class='facts-text'>Medical librarians are skilled in navigating specialized medical databases like PubMed and Cochrane Library. Their expertise allows them to locate often difficult-to-find research and medical literature.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>They Play a Crucial Role in Medical Education</h3><p class='facts-text'>Medical librarians work closely with medical students, imparting key research skills and assisting in evidence-based study which is fundamental to medical education.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>They Assist in Grant Writing and Funding Research</h3><p class='facts-text'>Medical librarians often aid researchers in finding and applying for grants. They help ensure proposals have the most relevant and up-to-date scientific literature.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Their Expertise Saves Doctors' Time</h3><p class='facts-text'>Searching for medical literature can be time-consuming for doctors. Medical librarians can swiftly search, select, and deliver the most relevant information - saving valuable time for healthcare professionals.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Medical Librarians can Impact Patient Outcomes</h3><p class='facts-text'>Through their detailed research and provision of accurate medical information, medical librarians can aid in diagnosis and treatment processes, impacting the outcomes of patient care.</p></div></div>
National Medical Librarians Month is celebrated on October 1 every year. In 2024, it will fall on a Tuesday.
2023
Oct 1
Sunday
2024
Oct 1
Tuesday
2025
Oct 1
Wednesday
2026
Oct 1
Thursday
2027
Oct 1
Friday
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