Department

University Library

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This poster, presented at the Medical Library Association (MLA) Annual Meeting, describes how Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health partnered to establish a new medical school, requiring library leaders to address LCME Standard 5.8 (Library Resources/Staff) within the data collection instrument and self-study for preliminary accreditation. A cross-institutional workgroup undertook a multi-method approach to building an evidence-based case for library planning, including a literature review, comparator institution database analysis, mapping of needs to LCME Standards, informal stakeholder interviews, consultation of AAHSL statistics and Doody's resources, evaluation of current holdings, and price estimation for needed resources. Key challenges included communicating library value and terminology to non-library decision-makers, navigating cultural differences between academic and hospital settings, addressing workgroup silos, and managing frequent changes throughout the planning process. The poster presents a visual crosswalk mapping library resources to curriculum needs as a practical tool for similar planning efforts. The authors conclude that because decision-makers in medical school planning may lack in-depth knowledge of medical libraries, librarians must proactively share evidence from the literature, professional statistics, and other authoritative sources to ensure library needs are understood and considered, even though acceptance of recommendations is not guaranteed.

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