Trends in Hospital Librarianship and Hospital Library Services: 1989 to 2006 (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION The status of hospital librarians has concerned the Medical Library Association (MLA) for many years. As regulations, standards, and the economy have cycled through changes, hospital librarians have been challenged to demonstrate their value and avoid downsizing or closure of their libraries. As Holst succinctly stated in her Janet Doe Lecture, "Hospital libraries today are a reflection of the environment that at times nurtured them and other times neglected them" [1]. Monitoring the growth, downsizing, and changes in service and staffing of hospital libraries through surveys has been critical to tracking changes in this community and initiating campaigns to remind health care administrators of the importance of information services to quality patient care.