Women's health: Librarian as social entrepreneur

It may take up to two decades before research findings become routinely used in clinical practice (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Librarians are uniquely positioned to maximize the accessibility of research. The author believes that research about gender biology and gender medicine needs to be integrated into clinical practice sooner than later, and that librarians can play a key role in connecting users with research. Utilizing the entrepreneurial approaches, techniques, methods, strategies, and tactics that are used for packaging and promoting their information products and services for social purpose, librarians can become social entrepreneurs. GenderBiology.net, a gateway to news and resources about gender biology and gender medicine, was created to assist information and health care professionals and consumers in this endeavor (Allison, 2006). This article provides an introduction to gender biology and medicine with selected events leading up to the concept of gender-specific medicine, as well as specific ways that librarians can become important players in getting genderspecific biomedical research information translated to real world application.