Australia's Health Libraries: A Research-directed Future

Health Libraries Australia, a group from the Australian Library and Information Association, is currently undertaking a research project to determine the future requirements for the health librarian workforce in Australia. The study has yielded an in-depth literature review exploring the Australian health care system and health library sector and international trends in health libraries that may impact Australian health librarian education. It has also produced surveys of Australian health librarians and health library managers. This article reviews the first stage of the project. The data will provide a solid foundation for development of the next phase of the project—scoping a structured, modular education framework for postgraduate qualifications in health librarianship and an ongoing continuing professional development structure.