How to Become a Medical Research Librarian
A valued and important part of any network of health care professionals, a medical research librarian is responsible for providing up-to-date information on medical treatments and instructing doctors and students in the use of research resources and software. A library and information services degree with some background in a medicine-related field provide a solid foundation to people who want to become a medical research librarian. Read on to learn more.
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Instructions
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Get the Education Required to Be a Medical Research Librarian
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Get a 4-year Bachelor's degree, preferably in a medicine- or information services-related field. Work hard at maintaining good grades to make your graduate school application more attractive.
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Use the resources at the American Library Association website to find endorsed MLIS programs (see Resources below).
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Complete your Master's degree in Library and Information Sciences (MLIS). As an alternative to getting your MLIS, you might also consider completing a Ph.D degree in an information- or medicine-related field, a Master's degree in medical informatics or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
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Choose a school that offers a specialization in medical librarianship when selecting an MLIS (or equivalent) program, if possible.
Acquire the Work Experience Needed to Become a Medical Research Librarian
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Find a wealth of useful resources that will help you become a medical research librarian at the Medical Librarian Association website (see Resources below). There, you can find everything from a mentor to anecdotal advice from current medical research librarians.
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Secure an entry-level job as a medical research librarian through your graduate school's career services, at a medical career fair or by networking in the industry.
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Work towards career advancement once you have your foot in the door. In most cases, a medical library director represents the zenith of the medical research librarian's career path. A director position requires extensive experience and constant upgrading of skills to attain.
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Tips & Warnings
Do your undergraduate degree in biology or pre-med. Though many medical research librarian positions do not necessarily require a science degree, you will need a thorough working knowledge of medical procedures and terminology.
