Libraries Using Evidence – eblip.net.au : a top view from Down Under

POSTER

Suzanne Lewis
Northern Sydney Central Coast Health
Lisa Cotter
Northern Sydney Central Coast Health /The University of Newcastle

The poster was originally accepted for presentation at the 4th International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference (EBLIP4, North Carolina, May 2007) to which ultimately, the authors were unable to attend. However, the NSW Health Libraries Forum 2007 provides an ideal opportunity to finally share this work with our peers.

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the term “evidence-based librarianship”. In 1997 this concept began its ascent from a discussion among likeminded library professionals into the published literature. It has continued to rise through the profession to occupy a place in the mainstream and afford librarians an enhanced view of the landscape in which they make decisions.

Similarly, Down Under in Sydney, Australia, people have, for 75 years, crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge the traditional way – along the eight-lane carriageway. Around the same time that Jonathan Eldredge’s Hypothesis article introduced “evidence-based librarianship” (11:3, pp.4-7), another pioneer was establishing BridgeClimb – an exciting new challenge with a fantastic view from the top, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge via the steel arch. Today, EBLIP practitioners are like the BridgeClimbers – ready to seek new perspectives, take a different route and enjoy the journey as well as achieving the destination. Adventurous BridgeClimbers ascend/cross the steel arch with confidence, supported by a well engineered structure and strong foundations.

Libraries Using Evidence – eblip.net.au offers a similarly solid foundation of authoritative resources to support EBLIP practitioners as they seek different perspectives on their professional practice.