Electronic Research Notebooks and Partnership Checklists: Fostering Cultured Collaboration in Evidence Synthesis Projects Using LabArchives and SWiRL-SR

Authors

• Gary Kaplan, MSLIS, AHIP, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Abby Adamczyk, MLIS, AHIP, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Emmett Booth, MLIS, AHIP, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Stephanie Roth, MLIS, AHIP, ChristianaCare

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

5-21-2026

Comments

Presented at the 2026 annual conference of the Medical Library Association (MLA).

Abstract

Background

Librarians providing evidence synthesis services often face project management challenges, from tracking progress on search strategy development to clarifying team roles. Librarians have a variety of tools to address these challenges.¹ We propose using electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), which standardize how scientists record research progress. Institutions have adapted ELNs to protect intellectual property and improve rigor and reproducibility.

Although many published systematic reviews report following guidelines such as PRISMA, they still lack rigor and reproducibility.² Therefore, one of the authors developed the Standards for Working with Research Librarians-on Systematic Reviews (SWiRL-SR) checklist to facilitate collaboration and improve the conduct of reviews.³ The SWiRL-SR checklist helps librarians avoid scope creep and unrealistic team expectations by teaching team members how to best collaborate.

Recommended Citation

Kaplan, MSLIS, AHIP, Gary; Adamczyk, MLIS, AHIP, Abby; Booth, MLIS, AHIP, Emmett; and Roth, MLIS, AHIP, Stephanie, "Electronic Research Notebooks and Partnership Checklists: Fostering Cultured Collaboration in Evidence Synthesis Projects Using LabArchives and SWiRL-SR" (2026). Academic Commons and Scott Memorial Library Staff Papers and Presentations. Paper 63.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/aisrpubs/63

Language

English