The Hospital Library as Clinical Infrastructure

Abstract

Hospital libraries have evolved beyond their traditional role as repositories of books and journals to become an integral component of the clinical, educational, and research infrastructure of modern healthcare institutions. This article examines the hospital library as a dynamic knowledge service that connects scientific evidence with clinical decision-making, professional education, research support, and patient information. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the health sciences librarian in identifying, evaluating, organising, and delivering reliable evidence at the point of need. The article discusses the contribution of clinical librarianship to evidence-based practice, information literacy, patient and caregiver health literacy, digital transformation, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. It also considers the organisational and economic value of library services and proposes six pillars for an effective modern hospital library: qualified professional staffing, integration into clinical and administrative teams, seamless digital access, continuing education, services for patients and caregivers, and systematic evaluation based on clinical and organisational indicators. The hospital library is ultimately presented not as a passive repository of information, but as an active knowledge infrastructure that helps transform reliable scientific information into informed decisions and better healthcare.