News Release

UNC to host international conference on evidence-based library and information practice

May 9 , 2006

Library and Information Science professionals from around the world will come together in Chapel Hill-Durham for the 4th International Conference on Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP4), hosted by the University of North Carolina on May 6-9, 2007. The conference will offer scholarly discussions about the future of evidence-based practice in the information professions and serve as a forum for current research taking place in the field. The conference will be followed by two days of continuing education opportunities on May 10-11.

"Evidence-based library and information practice is an exciting concept that promises to transform our profession," said Dr. Joanne Gard Marshall, organizer and alumni distinguished professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science. "Following on successful conferences in the UK, Canada and Australia, 2007 is a perfect year to host this ground-breaking international conference in the U.S. We look forward to sharing ways of linking research to practice that will improve services in all types of libraries and information settings and assist in knowledge transfer and development during this time of demographic transition in our field."

The conference will address topics such as:

• Improving the quality of library and information services
• Building and accessing the knowledge base of the profession
• Defining and setting standards for evidence-based practice
• The role of library administrators, professional associations and other stakeholders in promoting evidence-based practice
• Identifying key practice areas requiring systematic review of the evidence
• What can we learn from other professions that have implemented evidence-based practice?

In addition, the conference will highlight papers and posters that present research based on the highest standards of evidence-based librarianship, as well as workshops on how to do evidence-based practice, how to assess the library and information science literature, and how to apply evidence-based practice in different kinds of library and information settings.

Evidence-based librarianship, as defined by Anne McKibbon, et al. at the 1996 ASIS meeting is “an approach to information science that promotes the collection, interpretation and integration of valid, important and applicable user-reported, librarian-observed, and research-derived evidence. The best available evidence, moderated by user needs and preferences, is applied to improve the quality of professional judgments."

The conference is held every two years and brings together participants from diverse branches of the library and information profession who are interested in using evidence-based practice to improve their information services and make better informed decisions. Previous conferences have been held in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The year 2007 will mark the first time the meeting will be held in the United States.

The conference will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center in Durham, NC, which is a 10 minute ride from the Raleigh Durham International Airport.

For more information, please visit the conference website at www.eblip4.unc.edu.