University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine Spring 2021 | Page 11

are involved all along that path , and the expertise we bring is essential during times like these when the immediate need for the best evidence is critical for our care of our community .”
Safdar says the ability to lean on librarians who have the suitable backgrounds and expertise to collaborate on clinical questions and develop the best method for retrieving literature is not just about saving precious time . It is also about avoiding costly errors .
“ Sometimes we make a mistake early on trying to do everything ourselves ,” says Safdar . “ We want to avoid a scenario where we did not conduct the most comprehensive search possible .”
As the pandemic shifts , more answers are found , and even more questions surface ; researchers and doctors note the importance of having structures in place to efficiently assist

“ It is important to connect with the right expertise and background in the library early on , we truly cannot take for granted the critical support the libraries provide .”

with conducting comprehensive searches to the countless inquiries developed . Libraries will continue to serve as an essential partner to those looking for answers on healthcare ’ s front lines .
“ It is important to connect with the right expertise and background in the library early on ,” says Safdar . “ We truly cannot take for granted the critical support the libraries provide .”
Below : A UW – Madison student assembles COVID-19 viral testing kits with a swab and viral transport media into a specimen bag .
Bryce Richter
University of Wisconsin – Madison | 11