Broad issues to consider for library involvement in bioinformatics.
BACKGROUND
The information landscape in biological and medical research has grown far beyond literature to include a wide variety of databases generated by research fields such as molecular biology and genomics. The traditional role of libraries to collect, organize, and provide access to information can expand naturally to encompass these new data domains.


METHODS
This paper discusses the current and potential role of libraries in bioinformatics using empirical evidence and experience from eleven years of work in user services at the National Center for Biotechnology Information.


RESULTS
Medical and science libraries over the last decade have begun to establish educational and support programs to address the challenges users face in the effective and efficient use of a plethora of molecular biology databases and retrieval and analysis tools. As more libraries begin to establish a role in this area, the issues they face include assessment of user needs and skills, identification of existing services, development of plans for new services, recruitment and training of specialized staff, and establishment of collaborations with bioinformatics centers at their institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing library involvement in bioinformatics can help address information needs of a broad range of students, researchers, and clinicians and ultimately help realize the power of bioinformatics resources in making new biological discoveries.
Geer
Renata C
RC
National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. renata@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
D019295:Computational Biology / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D007318:Inservice Training; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007993:Libraries, Medical; D007998:Library Science / Q000193:education*; D007999:Library Services / Q000639:trends*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D000078329:Workforce