Debate

Technology mediator: a new role for the reference librarian?

David K Howse¹, Paul J Bracke^1,2 and Samuel M Keim³

¹Arizona Health Sciences Library, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, P.O. Box 245079, Tucson, AZ 85724-5079, USA

²Purdue University Libraries, 504 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2058, USA

³Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, P.O. Box 245057, Tucson, AZ 85724-5057, USA

Biomedical Digital Libraries 2006, 3:10doi:10.1186/1742-5581-3-10

Published:	13 October 2006

Abstract

The Arizona Health Sciences Library has collaborated with clinical faculty to develop a federated search engine that is useful for meeting real-time clinical information needs. This article proposes a technology mediation role for the reference librarian that was inspired by the project, and describes the collaborative model used for developing technology-mediated services for targeted users.