Impact starts with librarians

Meet Jefferson Garcia: helping researchers use AI tools critically

At Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, Jefferson Garcia’s work responds to a new challenge in academic research: helping students judge the quality of AI-generated information. A growing number of students and researchers have been coming to the library for support after using AI tools that produced fabricated or unreliable references. As a Digital Services Professional supporting the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the School of Engineering at Universidad de los Andes, his role helps them understand the difference between fast, and trustworthy information.

A group of medical students came to the library while completing a systematic review as part of their research training. They had started the work, but their search strategy was limited, using only a narrow selection of sources. The review needed a clearer and more reproducible method, and Jefferson helped them build it from the ground up.

He worked with the group on controlled vocabulary, including MeSH terms, Boolean logic and defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. He guided them towards appropriate medical and multidisciplinary databases and helped document the search process transparently, so the review met the standards expected of evidence-based medicine.

With Jefferson’s expertise and support, the students completed a high-quality systematic review that was evaluated positively by faculty supervisors. More importantly, they developed essential research skills: knowing how to search with precision, choose the right sources and to involve the library earlier in their research process.

His nominator and colleague, Marcela Gómez, Digital Services Leader at Universidad de los Andes described the impact as both immediate and lasting: “The students developed lasting competencies in evidence-based medicine and now approach research tasks with greater confidence, frequently engaging with the library at earlier stages of their projects.”

Jefferson’s story shows how subject-specialist library support strengthens medical research. By helping students turn a limited search into a transparent, reproducible systematic review, Jefferson gave them research skills they can carry into future clinical, academic and evidence-based work.

Meet Elīna Veļa: building librarian skills for stronger research support

At Rīga Stradiņš University Library in Latvia, Chief Librarian Elīna Veļa is the kind of leader many universities have, but don't always see: a librarian who quietly turns "research support" from a vague promise into something researchers can truly rely on.

In early 2025, Elīna identified a growing need across the Baltic research community: stronger, more consistent support for systematic reviews. She knew that when librarians are equipped with the right skills, knowledge and confidence, they can help research teams work faster, search smarter, and produce systematic reviews that stand up to scrutiny. Just as importantly, it's a powerful way for libraries to be recognized as active partners in research, and not just custodians of resources.

Elīna took this concept from idea to reality. She helped bring the Baltic-German Systematic Review Summer School to life: a four-day, hands-on event in July 2025 that welcomed 25 librarians from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Germany. She played a central role in shaping the programme, coordinating the logistics and creating a learning environment where participants could build both their professional networks and a critical understanding of best practice for systematic reviews. For Elīna, the impact of her work is both personal and collective. When a summer school participant told her, "The lecturer team is the best; how did you manage to get these lecturers?" Elīna had her answer: this work really matters—and librarians do, too.