Technology-Assisted Systematic Reviewing: Collaboration and Experiences of Health Sciences Librarians from Multi-Institutions

BACKGROUND (100 Word limits)
For the past decade, a number of web-based or computer software programs or products have been used to aid the process of collaboration in conducting systematic reviews. The anatomy of these products would be useful for health sciences librarians when making informed decisions on product selection in conducting systematic reviews or in budget planning by administration. Health sciences librarians play a key role in systematic reviews and other types of research syntheses. We, a team of health sciences librarians from four different libraries, have been actively collaborating and leading efforts in conducting systematic reviews at our own home institution.

DESCRIPTION
Health sciences librarians have been integral to the process of systematic reviews and other types of research syntheses. The rigorous process could be labor intensive, involving efforts by members with different expertise and skills. In this presentation, we are going to describe and demonstrate how we collaborated as a team across different settings and what technological tools we utilized to aid the systematic review process. We will examine unique features, functions, and limitations of each product, and share lessons learned and some recommendations regarding approaches to collaboration in conducting systematic reviews in the technology-assisted environment. For our collaboration, we used a team- and project-based approach to identifying a common topic of interest and conducting a systematic review enabled by technologies while sharing our expertise, skills, and learning with each other.

CONCLUSIONS
The multi-institutional collaborative project was not without any challenges. Yet, the collective learning and execution of the project have benefited us in many ways. We had a better understanding of each product’s strengths and limitations; the project enhanced our abilities in conducting systematic review and supporting and collaborating with our library clients. Our collaboration with the technology-assisted systematic review is a great way for us to engage in lifelong learning, continuous professional development, and stay connected even though we are separated by distance and isolated due to the shelter-in-place or social distance order during the unprecedented times.