Consumer Health Librarian

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Job Title:Consumer Health Librarian - Health Sciences LibraryDepartment:Health Sciences | Library

The Consumer Health Librarian at the Ohio State University Health Sciences Library serves in the Library for Health Information, a patient- and family-focused resource center within the health system. This full-time, non-faculty staff librarian position operates both virtually and onsite, reporting through the Health Sciences Library and funded by the OSU Wexner Medical Center. Responsibilities include leading, implementing, administering, teaching, and evaluating library services and programs for the Library for Health Information (LHI) and its satellite units, which support the OSU Health System, University, and general public. The Consumer Health Librarian is accountable for strategic planning, implementation, execution, and assessment of all LHI and any satellite operations, resources, and services, as well as coordinating budget oversight with funding units. Additional duties consist of promoting and marketing library resources, services, and learning opportunities, implementing new technologies, potentially supervising library volunteer staff, and participating as a member of the Health Sciences Library's Outreach and Collection department.

The Ohio State University Health Sciences Library seeks a customer service-oriented individual to serve as a Consumer Health Librarian in the Library for Health Information, a patient/family focused resource center within the health system. This position is full-time non-faculty staff librarian position reporting through the Health Sciences Library and funded by the OSU Wexner Medical Center. The role is primarily onsite. Job duties for this role include the following.

Select, acquire, and maintain a small collection of consumer health print and electronic materials for patients and families, to be distributed in person, electronically, or via self-service literature racks in various locations throughout the medical center. Consult and provide consumer health information services to patients, families, and members of the community virtually via online consultation, phone calls, email, mobile kiosks, or other emerging technologies, or in person within the medical center or outreach event locations. Maintain an online guide of trusted consumer health information sources for the public, which could include internal and external content. Promote consumer health services and materials to internal and external customers. Provide educational/health literacy consults and classes to patients and the community. Occasionally provide group instruction on finding and using consumer health information to patients, families, the community, students and clinicians.  Work collaboratively to develop robust partnerships with other medical center entities focused on patient education and patient experience. Could include establishing community partnerships. Work collaboratively with medical students, residents, nurses, and other clinicians to build awareness around Library for Health Information services and resources within the medical center or via outreach opportunities. Participate in up to 5 local outreach events per year. Maintain statistics and evaluate use of resources and services as needed. Partner with James patient education department to offer services in the patient and family resource center. This may include training and oversight of volunteers.  Initiate, participate in and promote performance improvement, evaluation and research activities related to patient/family education and health literacy. Collaborate with the health system and James patient education teams to ensure a cohesive approach to health literacy and patient education activities.    Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education Required
Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Education Desired
Master's Degree preferred in Library Sciences from an ALA accredited university.
Academic or hospital library experience.
Completion of MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization.

Required Qualifications
6+ years of relevant experience
Demonstrated knowledge of consumer health resources as well as familiarity with searching health sciences databases.
Familiarity with health literacy principles.
Strong commitment to customer service.
Comfort with use of technologies such as M365 Teams, social media, online meeting platforms, and other emerging technologies such as AI. 
Comfort providing high quality reference and/or customer service via virtual means while also being comfortable working. within an in-person hospital environment.
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Additional Desired Qualifications
8-12 years of relevant experience preferred.
Project management and development experience.
Library Instruction and/or community outreach experience.
Ability to transport, stock, and distribute print literature and other items to free-standing information racks in medical center locations (including other hospital or ambulatory locations) or outreach events.

Function: Library and Museum
Sub-Function: Library Public Services
Specialized: S4
 

Additional Information:Location:Prior Hall (0302)Position Type:RegularScheduled Hours:40Shift:First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. 

As required by Ohio Revised Code section , Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

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