October is National Medical Librarians Month, a time to celebrate the vital role health information professionals play in advancing medicine, supporting research, and empowering patients and providers alike. As health science librarians, we are proud to be your strongest allies in navigating today’s fast-paced, and often uncertain health information landscape.
In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by conflicting headlines, viral claims, and a rapid-fire news cycle that can make it challenging to distinguish fact from fiction. Having the skills to navigate this challenging environment is critical in health and medicine, where misinformation can impact patient safety and clinical decisions. Librarians have the skills to help people go beyond the headlines and ask: Was this study done well? Is this information reliable? Can I trust this resource?
These skills are fundamental to evidence-based practice and directly support IU School of Medicine's strategic goal to maximize learner success statewide. Our librarians are embedded in medical education at the IU School of Medicine, working directly with faculty and learners through regular participation in journal clubs, teaching critical appraisal skills throughout the curriculum, providing individual research consultations, and leading targeted workshops on critical appraisal skills.
What We Offer
For Learners: Guidance to help you read, understand, and communicate complex health research—and the skills to spot methodologically sound science versus hype.
For Researchers: Expert support in navigating scholarly publishing, evaluating methods, and meeting rigorous research standards.
For Clinicians: Trusted answers and access to evidence summaries that help you provide the best patient care.
Resources to Get You Started
EBM Guide: Start here for step-by-step instructions on applying evidence-based methods in your studies or clinical practice
Critical Appraisal Resources: Look through the listed articles, checklists, and links to YouTube videos to help you dissect research articles and separate strong evidence from weak or misleading claims
Workshops & Classes: Join sessions on critical appraisal, health information seeking, and evaluating online medical information
1-on-1 Consultations: Get targeted help for your information needs—email us at medlref@iu.edu to schedule a meeting or drop in for support
Reliable information saves time and lives. The librarians at the Ruth Lilly Medical Library stand ready to help you learn, practice, and teach the skills that help you read, understand, and use research. Let’s work together to empower every member of our healthcare community with the information—and confidence—they need to thrive.
