Melis Lydston (née Patnode)

It was ultimately the questions that drew me into librarianship. In the library world, we call this work “reference.” The questions I sought out most were the tricky ones that required a lot of digging and stuck with me long after the patron had left. I still like to mull over the ones that were especially intriguing, like:- How do you break the news of an illness like cancer when a language barrier exists between the provider and the patient?
- As a pilot, checklists are a critical part of safety in the air. Now as a physician, I'd like to see how effective they are in the ER.
- My great-great-great-grandfather was a blacksmith in Kittery, Maine. Can you find a record of him living there?
- In public health emergencies like pandemics, how can infection be prevented in converted medical spaces like gyms and stadiums?
- How does cancer affect patients financially?
- Can you explain U.S. copyright law to a postdoc visiting from China?
- How might we reduce loneliness among people living with HIV?At Massachusetts General Hospital, I regularly answer tough questions, uncovering citations to answer them. I also teach people how to search on their own and vet what they've found.Moreover, my role involves co-authoring and peer reviewing the same types of evidence I teach people to evaluate. Additionally, I help researchers with issues surrounding publication, such as navigating funder mandates, managing article processing charges, avoiding problematic publishers, and more.This site contains some of my instructional materials. If there's anything you can't access, please reach out, and I'll supply it. LinkedIn is the best way to reach me.