title: Hospital librarianship in the United States: at the crossroads.
abstract: This paper examines recent developments in hospital librarianship in the United States, including the current status of hospital-based clinical library services. Several examples of hospital library services are presented that demonstrate some characteristics of struggling and thriving services. The implications of the informationist concept are considered. The continuation of the hospital librarian's primary role in support of patient care is explored, as core competencies are reexamined for relevancy in the new millennium.
authors.affiliation: Medical Libraries, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware 19718, USA. dwolf@christianacare.org
authors.forename: Diane G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Christine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chastain-Warheit
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Easterby-Gannett
authors.forename: Marion C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chayes
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016245:Librarians; D007992:Libraries, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007998:Library Science / Q000592:standards*; D007999:Library Services / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce