Rate My Professor Thelma Fisher

Thelma Fisher serves as the Information Services Subject Librarian in the Health Sciences Library at the University of Otago, where she supports the Schools of Pharmacy and Physiotherapy. Holding qualifications including a Teachers' College Certificate (TTC), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (PGDipTchg), and Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), she has been with the University since May 1994. Initially at the Central Library, she took on the role of Subject Librarian from 2009 to 2016 before moving to the Health Sciences Library in 2016. Throughout her career, Fisher has provided exceptional support to academic staff, researchers, postgraduates, and undergraduates, earning praise for her dedication and described by colleagues and students as a "librarian extraordinaire," "absolutely incredible," and "fairy godmother." In 2024, she received the Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions among over 4,200 professional staff members.

Fisher's expertise encompasses research support, teaching, and learning facilitation through personalized consultations, workshops, and meticulously curated online subject guides highlighting key library and scholarly resources. She assists with literature reviews, advanced search strategies, citation and referencing in various styles, and the evaluation of information sources. Additionally, she develops instructional videos on search techniques, academic integrity, and reference management to foster independent student learning. Fisher stays abreast of emerging databases, technologies, and search alerts while advising on publishing strategies to enhance research impact. Her scholarly contributions include co-authoring "A systematic review of economic evaluations of pharmacist services" (2023, International Journal of Pharmacy Practice), "Development of evidence-based standards for inpatient physiotherapy services: a systematic review and content analysis of clinical practice guidelines" (2024, BMJ Open), "Hacking a textbook: How University of Otago librarians supported a new academic initiative" (2014, New Zealand Library & Information Management Journal), and "Media Studies 101" (2014, Rebus Community). Earlier works feature "A Collaborative Quest - Building Information Literacy Initiatives at the University of Otago" (2002) and evaluations of interlibrary loan practices such as "Did we get it right? Post Evaluation of New Zealand’s Interloans Best Practice Workshop" (2006). Fisher's deep integration into supported departments and ongoing student engagement underscore her profound impact on the academic community.