libraries*

Question: What are some of the forces shaping the evolution of medical libraries, and where might they lead? Data Sources: Published literature in the fields of library and information sciences, technology, health services research, and business was consulted. Main Results: Medical libraries currently have a modest footprint in most consumers ’ personal health ecologies, the network of resources and activities they use to improve their health. They also occupy a relatively small space in the health care, information, and business ecologies of which they are a part. Several trends in knowledge discovery, technology, and social organizations point to ways in which the roles of medical libraries might grow and become more complex. Conclusion: As medical libraries evolve and reach out to previously underserved communities, an ecological approach can serve as a useful organizing framework for the forces shaping this evolution. In recent years, numerous thoughtful articles and con-ference talks have raised the question of how medical libraries should evolve in a time of rapid change. Mov-ing beyond the collection and curation of print sources, medical libraries face a challenging set of new roles and demands related to education, outreach, technol-ogy adoption, marketing, and evaluation, among other issues [1]. Like the academic health centers in which many of them reside [2], medical libraries can serve a vital function in improving the health and welfare of their local communities and of society at large, but huge changes in health care, medical education, infor-mation technology, and their sociocultural, regulatory, and financial contexts have brought many to ‘‘a point in the history of our profession where we do not even * This paper is based on a presentation at the ‘‘Symposium on Com