Peggy Tahir

Peggy Tahir serves as a Research & Copyright Librarian at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Library, providing specialized expertise in biomedical research literature and copyright law. Based at 530 Parnassus Avenue, #001 in San Francisco, she supports UCSF students, faculty, and staff through consultations, classes, and departmental presentations focused on literature search strategies and information management workflows.

Her educational background includes:

• MLIS in Library & Information Science from UC Berkeley (1986)
• MA in English: Creative Writing from San Francisco State University (1982)
• BA in English: Creative Writing from San Francisco State University (1977)
• Certificate in Copyright Management and Leadership I from University of Maryland University College (2011)

Tahir specializes in biomedical research librarianship with expertise spanning literature search strategies, information management systems, systematic review methodology, and US copyright law as applied to academic research. Her work enables researchers to overcome bottlenecks in their research by educating them on literature search engines, databases, and public data sets. She has developed numerous online guides that support the UCSF research community in navigating complex information landscapes.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong focus on systematic reviews across diverse medical specialties including HIV/AIDS treatment, urology, dermatology, reproductive medicine, and health disparities research. Her collaborative work frequently addresses methodological aspects of literature searching and systematic review processes, reflecting her dual expertise in library science and biomedical research.

Her notable professional recognitions include:

• UCSF School of Pharmacy 2022 Summer Dean's Apple Teaching Award
• Northern California & Nevada Medical Library Group 2013 Professional Development Grant
• Northern California & Nevada Medical Library Group 2009 Award for Professional Excellence
• Marine Biological Laboratory Medical Informatics Fellow (2003)
• National Library of Medicine Associate Fellow (1986-1987)

As an in-house expert on US copyright law, Tahir plays a critical role in helping UCSF researchers navigate copyright questions that arise in academic and professional activities. Her teaching activities extend beyond traditional library instruction to include topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare education. She actively contributes to scholarly literature through co-authorship on systematic reviews across numerous medical specialties, demonstrating her ability to support research across the biomedical spectrum.