Published: November 20, 2024 by Aryn Prestia 

Interested in becoming a medical librarian? The SLASC recently hosted a Q&A Panel featuring medical librarians from Stanford and UC San Francisco. While you can watch the full panel here, you can find some of the panel’s top tips below.

What is Medical Librarianship?

Medical Librarians are information professionals that support health and medical education. While most commonly thought-of in relation to hospitals, Medical Librarians can actually be found in a variety of work settings- a pharmaceutical company, a medical school, a Nursing School, a biotechnology company, a teaching hospital, and even a Consumer Health Librarian at a public library.

Does an MLIS Degree Prepare you for Medical Librarianship?

While MLIS programs help to prepare students for more technical aspects of the job, many of the day-to-day medical reference responsibilities are best learned from peers. However, more medical-specific elements like using MeSH terms, navigating databases like PubMed, or learning more about evidence-based medicine can be explored independently.

Currently, SJSU has three courses that will be helpful to those seeking more exposure to medical librarianship: 

INFO 244 – Online Searching 

INFO 220 – Resources and Information Services in Professions and Disciplines – Consumer Health Librarianship – Currently held in the Summer 

INFO 231- Issues in Special Libraries and Information Centers

Gaining Experience

As with most librarian jobs, it is beneficial to have some experience to ensure that the day-to-day work aligns with your expectations. Starting part-time while still in school, or taking part in an internship are great ways to get a foot in the door.

The SLASC panel also highly recommended involvement in the Medical Library Association. As a smaller professional organization, it can lead to more networking opportunities. 

The Application Process

Depending on the environment, the application requirements for a Medical Librarian position could look dramatically different. A pharmaceutical company likely would align more with corporate position, an academic library will likely seek a research and/or teaching statement, and a hospital may request a diversity statement. Researching the organization can help you understand what may be expected.

Regardless of the organization-type, crafting a strong cover letter is the best way to explain your interest in medical librarianship while also including your positions on research, diversity, teaching, and other responsibilities.

Next Steps

Want more information on how your MLIS degree can help you on the path to Medical Librarianship? The iSchool has compiled a list of helpful resources for students interested in Medical Librarianship here. 

Two More Things…

Here are a few job opportunities that might be of interest!

• Collections Librarian – Pleasant Hill, CA – Diablo Valley College 
• Librarian I – Lexington County, SC – Lexington County Public Libraries

Remember that internships can be an especially valuable part of your learning experience at the iSchool while also helping you when it comes time to look for jobs. Learn more about the iSchool’s internship program here, where you can check out the INFO 294 Student Handbook as well as the Internship Sites database.