Staff Profile: Up Close with Head of Library Rindra Ramli

By Sanjay Devaraja, Editor, LKCMedicine's Redefine Newsletter

1. How has your experience been so far since you came aboard recently as the Head of Medical Library at LKCMedicine? 

It is invigorating to come on board as head of the medical library at LKCMedicine. My excitement was high, getting down to work in shaping the services to meet the needs of our medical students, faculty, and researchers. I learned about the unique requirements of the users and how we can tune our resources so that they effectively meet these needs. I have found it highly rewarding to observe how small changes and improvements bring results, such as streamlining access to resources or starting discussions around future library programs, services, and spaces. The collaborative and collegial environment of LKCMedicine has made this change smooth and inspiring. 

2. What strategies do you use to ensure that the library's resources meet the needs of both clinicians and researchers? 

Understanding and meeting the needs of our clinicians and researchers is a top priority. I actively seek feedback from faculty, staff and students, ensuring we are always ahead of the curve in understanding their changing needs. Regular consultations with the faculty help us understand changes in the curriculum and current research trends, allowing us to update our collections and services ahead of time. We also support data-driven decisions, using analytics to evaluate resource use and gaps. By continuously tracking such insights, we prioritise acquisitions that will provide high value to the users and remain relevant and comprehensive. 

3. How do you intend to enhance or expand library services to better support medical students and faculty? 

I plan to introduce personalised services and targeted training sessions for our medical students and faculty, making it easier for them to know and access the resources they need. This will include broadening our support for research and offering more workshops on information literacy. We also aim to enhance our digital presence with more online resources and guides, making the library more accessible and user-friendly. There is also significant potential for closer collaborations with other departments to integrate library resources into the learning management systems and research workflows more effectively. We aim to make the library an effortless, central, reachable hub that supports academic success through learning and research. 

4.How do you or intend to foster collaboration between the library and other departments within LKCMedicine? 

One way to enhance the educational experience is through collaboration between the library and other departments. I intend to create such collaboration through routine meetings with departmental heads and find ways in which we can work together, like co-hosting workshops, embedding library resources within curriculums, or supporting the research needs of the departments. I would also look into deploying technology to promote such collaboration—for example, sharing digital platforms for resource management and communication. Such links will help ensure that the library does not operate in isolation but as part of an integrated partner in the education and research framework at LKCMedicine. 

5.What strategies have you employed to increase the library's visibility and usage among users of the library in your past experiences? 

Increasing the visibility and usage of the library has been a prime interest in my past positions, and I have achieved this through proactive outreach and engagement with users. A case in point is my stay at KAUST, where I introduced digital reference services that made it more convenient for users to reach out to the library; this made a tremendous difference. Other ways include the implementation of targeted marketing campaigns in terms of workshops, social media outreach, and info sessions on resource services. We made the library a valued, accessible, and user-friendly resource by actively soliciting feedback and responding to their needs, with usage and visibility taking care of themselves. 

6. Can you describe an initiative where the library played a crucial role in supporting institutional goals, such as research or education? 

For instance, a crucial project was putting the eReserves — Resources List Management System in place at Yale-NUS College. This project directly facilitated academic intentions by enabling better systematic control over course reading lists and integrating them into the Learning Management System (LMS). The system could analyse student engagement with course materials to allow faculty to use data-driven insights to improve their courses. This not only streamlined access to critical readings but also made the educational experience rich by ensuring that all the required resources were on hand, according to the institution's commitment to high-quality education. 

7. How have you handled budget constraints while ensuring the library continues to provide high-quality resources and services? 

Strategic prioritisation and innovative thinking can make high-quality resources and services with budget constraints possible. For example, I have always stressed the aspect of value maximisation from existing resources in past roles, focusing on rigorous assessment of usage and cost-effectiveness. Also successful have been efforts at leveraging consortial agreements to access shared resources at reduced cost. I have thus remained flexible and always searched for ways to be efficient, continuing to provide quality services despite budgetary constraints. 

8. How do you manage the challenge of keeping the library's technology and resources up-to-date in a rapidly evolving digital landscape? 

Keeping up with the fast pace of change in a digital environment means being constantly on a learning and adaptability curve.  I stay updated on the latest trends in library technology through professional networks, conferences, and training. At KAUST, I spearheaded several technology upgrades, such as advanced migrations in electronic resource management systems and re-engineering our operations for better service provision. This includes a push for pilot testing new technologies at a lower scale before full implementation to check if they can serve us well. I always strive to be proactive and open to change to maintain the currency and relevance of the library's offerings. 

9. What methods do you use to assess the needs and satisfaction of library users? 

I use a combination of surveys, focus groups, and direct feedback mechanisms to gather insights from our users. Periodic feedback from faculty and students assists me in being informed about their changing needs and supports data-informed decision-making. I also utilise usage analytics to identify trends and areas to improve. This user-centred approach means we strive to align with community needs, making adjustments and enhancements that benefit users directly. 

10. Please share with us more on your experience working at overseas institutions such as the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. 

It was a transformational experience working at KAUST, where my view on librarianship and life became broader.  I led the E-Resources team at KAUST, which initiated several projects improving user access to digital resources, such as moving to a new discovery layer and electronic resource management systems. In other words, working in an international, multicultural environment at KAUST taught me to become sensitive to cultural differences and adaptable to them, which is invaluable in my professional work. I have also been in strategic planning for the library to bring innovative solutions in support of the research and educational goals of the university, which makes this work dynamic and rewarding. 

11. Please share with us more on your previous role at NTU where you provided advice and information support for the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. 

At NTU, I was Assistant Director and was responsible for leading advisory and information support services for the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. In this capacity, I developed speciality resources and services that align with college requirements, including literature search consultations, research support, and information literacy instruction. I also oversaw service implementation in a suite that would enhance faculty and student research capacity. In this role, I have learned to support various academic needs with an available resources-enriched collaborative environment. 

12. How do you see the role of the medical library evolving in response to changes in healthcare education and research? 

Medical libraries are taking on new roles very fast in alignment with the needs associated with modern healthcare education and research. More resources go to digital resources, cutting-edge digital tools, databases, and educational technologies in general. Moreover, the library is increasingly becoming a research partner, offering support in data management, systematic reviews, and publishing. Medical libraries will continue to expand their roles as educators, collaborators, and innovators in support of information access and developing critical research and information literacy skills among healthcare professionals. 

13. What trends in medical librarianship do you think will have the most impact in the coming years, and how are you preparing for them? 

Some trends changing in medical librarianship that will largely shape the career are increasing reliance on digital and open-access resources, integration of artificial intelligence, and the growing importance of data management in the coming years. Therefore, I focused on the development of digital infrastructure and staff training on emerging technologies. More emphasis should be put on the library's role in research data management and open science initiatives. By keeping abreast of these trends and fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, our library will be at the forefront of support for medical education and research. 

14. Other than library stewardship, what are your hobbies and interests? Is there anything you wish to accomplish or desire to do? 

I enjoy traveling and immersing myself in different cultures. I firmly believe in lifelong learning and aim to develop new skills in diverse professional and creative domains continuously. I enjoy watching movies in my leisure time, particularly a fan of the Star Wars Trilogy, the Godfather, and the Shawshank Redemption, and listening to music. In the future, I aspire to write a book that combines my passion for librarianship and cultural exploration, offering insights to motivate others in the field. On a personal level, my primary goals are to excel in my career, find joy in life's simple pleasures, and cherish time with my family.