Academic information access for dental hygienists and the role of librarians

Abstract

Japan is a super-aged society where the Community-based Integrated Care System has been established to enhance medical and long-term care. In particular, dental care is closely related to systemic diseases. To maintain lifelong health, regular dental visits and professional care by specialists such as dental hygienists are essential. Under the Medical Care Act, Regional Medical Care Support Hospitals are required to establish a library, where hospital librarians provide academic support to local medical and long-term care professionals. Regional hospital library networks have been developed, enabling librarians to collaborate and contribute to community healthcare. Among them, this presentation introduces the activities of the Hokkaido Hospital Library Study Group, Kanagawa Medical Information Network Council, Life Science Librarians Chiba (LLC), Kinki Hospital Library Association, and Chugoku-Shikoku-Kyushu Medical Library Network.