Objective: In the spring of 2007, a librarian from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) joined with a librarian from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) to collaborate with pharmacy faculty in teaching Evidence-Based Pharmacology. As contributing instructors, the librarians were charged with grading student searching assignments and a rubric was developed to assist in this process.

Methods: The rubric was first created and utilized in the class in 2007. In 2009, it was streamlined and then reviewed following each use. It was designed to capture the overall EBP search process and multi-database search skills applicable to usage at both institutions. This updated rubric is in the process of being evaluated by a team of expert EBP librarian instructors nationwide. The final version of the rubric will be revised and will be used at both MCPHS and UMMS and subsequently at other interested institutions.

Results and Conclusions: Eight requests for participation were sent via e-mail to EBP librarian instructors nationwide from major pharmacy and medical institutions. Packets were sent to each librarian evaluator and included a) the grading rubric, b) a course syllabus c) a sample assignment used in the class from three students, and d) a metarubric analysis tool Participants were asked to review the students’ assignments, grade them using the grading rubric and to then evaluate the rubric for its usefulness. Six packets were received and analyzed using reviews of the completed metarubric and a qualitative analysis of comments. The final rubric will be made available for any interested librarian or educator to utilize.

Presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, on May 24, 2010.