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Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Abstract: (10 Views)
Objective: This narrative review aimed to examine the evolving role of health sciences librarians in supporting medical research and to identify emerging patterns of their participation in the research process.
Information Sources: A structured and targeted search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Reference lists of key studies and backward citation searching were also examined to identify relevant literature addressing foundational concepts and emerging trends.
Selection Methods: Sources were selected based on their topical relevance, scholarly value, and alignment with the objectives and conceptual themes of the review. Sources addressing traditional library services without a clear connection to research support, as well as non-scholarly materials, were excluded from the main synthesis. Overall, 332 records were identified, and 34 sources were selected for the final narrative synthesis.
Synthesis and Results: The narrative synthesis highlighted three major themes: specialized contributions to systematic reviews and evidence synthesis, research data management, and embedded librarianship. The evidence indicates that librarians’ contributions have expanded beyond traditional information services to encompass activities across different stages of the research lifecycle. However, the extent to which these roles are formally recognized and patterns of collaboration vary across settings.
Conclusion: The available evidence supports an expanding research role for health sciences librarians, although the extent and outcomes of this evolution remain uncertain across different contexts. Heterogeneity in service models, formal recognition of roles, and evaluation approaches limits the interpretation and transferability of the available evidence.
Information Sources: A structured and targeted search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Reference lists of key studies and backward citation searching were also examined to identify relevant literature addressing foundational concepts and emerging trends.
Selection Methods: Sources were selected based on their topical relevance, scholarly value, and alignment with the objectives and conceptual themes of the review. Sources addressing traditional library services without a clear connection to research support, as well as non-scholarly materials, were excluded from the main synthesis. Overall, 332 records were identified, and 34 sources were selected for the final narrative synthesis.
Synthesis and Results: The narrative synthesis highlighted three major themes: specialized contributions to systematic reviews and evidence synthesis, research data management, and embedded librarianship. The evidence indicates that librarians’ contributions have expanded beyond traditional information services to encompass activities across different stages of the research lifecycle. However, the extent to which these roles are formally recognized and patterns of collaboration vary across settings.
Conclusion: The available evidence supports an expanding research role for health sciences librarians, although the extent and outcomes of this evolution remain uncertain across different contexts. Heterogeneity in service models, formal recognition of roles, and evaluation approaches limits the interpretation and transferability of the available evidence.
Keywords: Health sciences librarians, Research data management, Embedded librarianship, Narrative review
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