1. SOCIETY

The health sciences librarian promotes access to health information for all within the library’s target groups in health care and creates and maintains conditions that facilitate informed health care decisions

Definitions society

• Health sciences librarian = in a broad sense, professional library staff who provides information services to staff, students and researchers within the medical and health sector, and information related to disease and health for the public
  

• Informed health care decisions = health care here includes all aspects of medicine from study to research -  activities that ultimately affect health care
  

• Target groups = the customers that the library is supposed to give service to 

2. CUSTOMERS

The health sciences librarian provides the best available information for the customer and observes professional confidentiality

Definitions customers

• Customer = a person who seeks medical or health information from libraries: a customer might be medical staff, health personnel or any health information consumer
  

• Observes professional confidentiality = the professional promise of discretion; the obligation to preserve confidentiality as observed elsewhere in the medical professions
  

• Ensures =an ambition to guarantee ”best available information”
  

• Best available information = a combination of the librarian’s reference interview with the customer and knowledge of suitable information sources combined with an active interest  and a high service level, ensuring that the customer gets the best available information. This is the core of the library profession

3. INSTITUTION

The health sciences librarian uses her/his expertise in the interest of the library’s target groups within the institution which the library serves. The aim of the library should be to facilitate the aims of the institution.

Definitions Institution  

• Meet the information needs and obligations of the institution – this means having an effective system for the institution, just not any system. In most cases, a library cannot meet its institution’s needs in isolation but needs interlibrary cooperation – networking for example
  

4. PROFESSION

The health sciences librarian works in the interest of the library’s customers and their needs by maintaining a high knowledge level in the library and making the library services suitable, diversified, well organised and easy to access by those customers. In relation to vendors and agents health sciences librarians must always act in the interest of his/her customers and institution.

Definitions profession

• Several European countries have their own codes of ethics for the library profession. These must be used when they can be applied.

5. SELF

The health sciences librarian assumes personal responsibility for developing and maintaining professional excellence