title: Demonstrating the financial impact of clinical libraries: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review is to evaluate the tools used to measure the financial value of libraries in a clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches were carried out on ten databases for the years 2003-2013, with a final search before completion to identify any recent papers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven papers met the final inclusion criteria. There was no evidence of a single 'best practice', and many metrics used to measure financial impact of clinical libraries were developed on an ad hoc basis locally. The most common measures of financial impact were value of time saved, value of resource collection against cost of alternative sources, cost avoidance and revenue generated through assistance on grant submissions. Few papers provided an insight into the longer term impact on the library service resulting from submitting return on investment (ROI) or other financial impact statements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are limited examples of metrics which clinical libraries can use to measure explicit financial impact. The methods highlighted in this literature review are generally implicit in the measures used and lack robustness. There is a need for future research to develop standardised, validated tools that clinical libraries can use to demonstrate their financial impact.
authors: St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Anne
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6031-6862
authors: A
authors: Madden
authors: The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Education Academy, West Midlands, UK.
authors: Pamela
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5628-3113
authors: P
authors: Collins
authors: Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Sondhaya
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3736-7503
authors: S
authors: McGowan
authors: Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Yorkshire, UK.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Stevenson
authors: Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, UT, USA.
authors: David
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5818-6974
authors: D
authors: Castelli
authors: Kaiser Permanente NW Regional Libraries, Clackamas, OR, USA.
authors: Loree
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8408-9767
authors: L
authors: Hyde
authors: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: DeSanto
authors: UnityPoint Health, Des Moines, IA, USA.
authors: Nancy
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8965-2982
authors: N
authors: O'Brien
authors: Fraser Health Authority, Surrey, BC, Canada.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Purdon
authors: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Diana
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6290-3497
authors: D
authors: Delgado
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D063025:Health Information Management; D006801:Humans; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D007999:Library Services / Q000191:economics*
keywords: clinical libraries; economic analysis; evaluation; health care; hospital; information services; libraries; library services; medical; review; systematic