Expert-recommended tasks for hospital librarians during a healthcare system merger or acquisition: an e-Delphi consensus statement

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2026.2031

Keywords:

Delphi Method, Mergers, acquisitions, hospital libraries, hospital librarianship, hospital librarians, M&A, mergers and acquisitions, Consensus, leadership, management, administration, change management, Organizational Change

Abstract

Objective: Limited empirical research is available to guide hospital librarians through a healthcare system merger or acquisition. To address this knowledge gap, an e-Delphi research study was used to develop recommended tasks that librarians should consider when consolidating the delivery of library services to a newly merged, geographically distributed healthcare system.

Methods: This e-Delphi study was conducted and reported according to the Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies (CREDES). The expert panel, composed of 29 hospital librarians, responded to four rounds of questionnaires during April to December 2022. In Round 1, the panelists’ qualitative responses were collected and analyzed via thematic analysis to identify potential recommended tasks. In Rounds 2 through 4, tasks were eliminated or prioritized based upon the panelists’ rating of each task using a seven-point Likert scale. Those tasks rated as 5, 6, or 7 by ≥75% of the panelists were included in the final consensus statement.

Results: The consensus statement identifies 330 recommended tasks. Highly prioritized tasks involve cultivating beneficial relationships with others throughout the merger, particularly newly blended library teams, finance and administrative leadership, information technology/services, and vendors. Marketing and outreach activities and physical library space management tasks were not prioritized. The panelists emphasized understanding organizational context and culture throughout any merger.

Conclusions: The recommended tasks can be used by hospital librarians to create an action plan for consolidating and delivering library services in the event of a healthcare system merger or acquisition. Future research on the utility of the recommendations is anticipated.

Author Biographies

Stacy Posillico, AHIP, Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY and Office of Academic Affairs, New Hyde Park, NY

Stacy F. Posillico, MLS, JD, AHIP-D is the Senior Librarian for the Eastern Region Hospitals of Northwell Health within the system's Office of Academic Affairs. She is an accomplished information science professional and educator with over eleven years’ experience in special and academic libraries. She received her M.L.S. with a Certificate of Academic Excellence from St. John’s University. She also earned her J.D. and received outstanding evaluations from Northeastern University School of Law, and she received her B.A. summa cum laude with University Honors in Political Science and Justice from American University. Stacy is responsible for collaborating with various graduate medical education and hospital specialties to develop and execute educational programs that meet the strategic goals and initiatives of the program and ACGME. She also provides research support services to residents, faculty, researchers, and administration in the form of literature searching, bibliographic management, and scholarly activities. Her research interests include advancing the writing and dissemination skills of trainee clinicians and clinical faculty, promoting the voices of new and diverse clinical authors and citations to their work, and innovation in hospital library organization. Stacy is also a leader in several library professional organizations and regularly presents at professional conferences. She is a distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals and is an active member of the National Medical Library Association, as well as the Liberty Chapter of the MLA, and the Long Island Library Resources Council. 

Jaclyn Morales, Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY and North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY

Jaclyn Morales has been a medical librarian for over 10 years and is currently the senior librarian at North Shore University Hospital. She is responsible for collaborating with various clinical and allied health programs and hospital specialties to develop and execute educational programs that meet the strategic goals and initiatives of the program and ACGME. She also provides research support services to residents, researchers, and administration in the form of literature searching, bibliographic management, and scholarly activities. As part of the Northwell librarians’ team, she assists with technical questions regarding mobile applications and access to the electronic resources and chairs their Marketing and Outreach committee. Jaclyn is also an active contributor on several systematic reviews. Jaclyn is a distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals and is an active member of the National Medical Library Association and is the current chair of the Liberty Chapter of the Medical Library Association.

Saori Wendy Herman, Northwell, New Hyde Park, NY and Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY

Assistant Dean of Library Services, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
Corporate Director of Libraries, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY

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2026-04-13 — Updated on 2026-04-13

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Vol. 114 No. 2 (2026): April 2026

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