More Than Literature Reviews, Be Part of a Medical Research Project

Introduction: Librarians are often consulted for literature reviews by researchers and clinicians, but, within a multidisciplinary research project, it is possible to expand our role and be part of the team. We have a place to take in multidisciplinary medical interventions and research. Description: The coordinator of a multidisciplinary mental health project in the high-risk pregnancy unit at CHU Sainte-Justine approached us for her literature revue and to see how we could partake in the project that consists of numerous interventions to improve the quality of life of these hospitalized women. We offered to animate a book club for the patients in the unit, which gave us a perspective for new library services. During the planning and development of the project, we also took every opportunity to participate in other interventions and to propose our services to the different members of the team (bibliographies, training, etc.). New collaboration arose with other organizations, like the local public library that granted us access to reading material. Outcomes: All this work was very beneficial for our hospital library; we gained more visibility and recognition in a clinical unit and assisted a vaster range of professionals. It was a valuable experience which is only the premise to more. Not only, have we increased our services for medical teams but also for inpatients, and we opened the road for other projects to extend our inpatients offer. Discussion: Don't hesitate to seize the opportunities and find new ways to respond to your patrons' needs.