Q. When should I include my librarian as co-author or acknowledge as a contributor on my manuscript for publication?

When requesting a literature search:

It is helpful to mention that the search will be instrumental in writing a manuscript for publication. This is a good time to discuss the considerations of co-authorship or contributorship.

• WRNMMC librarians develop search strategies and search PubMed and often additional databases based on research topics and case scenarios to inform the background in a literature review, case report, or other publication manuscripts, or to carry out a systematic review.
• Within the academic environment a standard consideration is that of authorship or acknowledgement on the part of those contributing to a work.

Based on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICJME) recommendations, the role of the librarian would fall under consideration when the requestor/researcher/author is reflecting upon authorship or contributorship. The ICJME has provided recommendations for the ethical consideration of authorship or contributorship.

The language below is from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of- authors-and-contributors.html 

Authorship:

“The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following 4 criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.”

Non-Author Contributors:

• “Contributors who meet fewer than all 4 of the above criteria for authorship should not be listed as authors, but they should be acknowledged.”
• “Because acknowledgment may imply endorsement by acknowledged individuals of a study’s data and conclusions, editors are advised to require that the corresponding author obtain written permission to be acknowledged from all acknowledged individuals.”

Please feel free to discuss with your librarian!