Work

Library workers' personal beliefs about childhood vaccination and vaccination information provision

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: This is a report on the impact of library workers' personal beliefs on provision of vaccination information. Nine public librarians were interviewed about a hypothetical scenario involving a patron who is concerned about possible vaccination-autism connections. The analysis employed thematic coding. Results suggested that while most participants supported childhood vaccination, tension between their personal views and neutrality impacted their ability to conduct the interaction. The neutrality stance, though consonant with professional guidelines, curtails librarians' ability to provide accurate health information. Outreach and communication between public and health sciences libraries can help librarians provide resources to address health controversies.

Source: Journal of the Medical Library Association JMLA

DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.102.3.012

Authors: Alla Keselman, Catherine Arnott Smith, Savreen Hundal

Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Madison, United States National Library of Medicine, Center for Public Service Communications

Language: English

Topic: Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine