Librarians as Creators of Open Educational Resources for Advanced Searching

Abstract

Panel Description Health librarians are increasingly authoring their own open educational resources (OERs) to teach advanced literature searching—an essential skill for evidence synthesis. These instructional materials, often created in response to gaps in existing resources, go beyond simple guides incorporating bilingual content, scaffolded exercises, knowledge checks, and video tutorials. They reflect librarians’ deep expertise and commitment to affordable, open, and high-quality learning materials. This panel will explore three librarian-led OER projects that exemplify this growing trend. Through brief presentations and a moderated discussion, panelists will share insights into the design, implementation, and impact of their work, and reflect on the broader implications of OER creation as a scholarly and pedagogical practice.

Panelists • Sandra McKeown (Queen’s University) will present her self-paced module for teaching systematic review search strategies. • Erica Nekolaichuk (University of Toronto) will discuss her comprehensive LibGuide for advanced health sciences searching. • Peter Farrell (University of Ottawa) will share his and Nigèle Langlois’ bilingual adaptation of Erica’s guide, tailored to the uOttawa context.

This panel aims to inspire librarians to see OER creation as a meaningful extension of their teaching and scholarship. Attendees will gain practical ideas for launching their own projects, collaborating within and across institutions, and leveraging funding opportunities to support open instructional design.