The Ambivalence of Librarianship, the Pipeline, and Pathways for BIPOC

For BIPOC, the library pipeline evokes strong ambivalence. It provides a fixed entry into the professional world, but the long term prospects are neither clear nor without consequence. For many, there is the expectation that regardless of personal choice, they will enter leadership roles. The nuance of these spaces is undeniable, especially if one considers the fact that hiring BIPOC into academic librarianship is often predicated on these “separate” programs. Without question, these pipelines provide fiduciary and career support for those who work within them, but the tradeoffs have not always been beneficial either in a cultural or holistic manner. Simply getting rid of the pipeline without a structural alternative is not the answer, but neither is the action of doing nothing and maintaining these inequitable working conditions silently. We refer to April Hathcock’s blog post, Librarianship As A Plantation as a framework for examining these initiatives. New librarians are often forced to engage in pipeline initiatives, like diversity residencies, through an unchallenged paucity narrative. Indeed, many residencies have long been documented to have exploitative features. And yet, the alternative to not engaging in these initiatives is often to struggle to get a foot in the door. The highest levels of diversity are often found in libraries\u27 non-librarian ranks, but there is an implacable barrier between non-librarians and librarians that is often only breached through engaging in these initiatives. Lack of success in this process is generally recognized as the resident’s or the BIPOC worker’s inability to handle the pressure, and not an issue with the pipeline itself. Is the cost worth the investment? Is there more harm than value derived from these programs? What could the structural alternatives be, or are they even possible? This roundtable will invite attendees to cast a critical eye on the nuance within pipeline initiatives

Racial and Ethnic Categories: Impact on Medical Subject Headings

This presentation was part of the OMB Public Listening Sessions on Federal Race and Ethnicity Standards Revision. The presentation addressed the use of racial and ethnic categories and their impact on medical subject headings managed by the National Library of Medicine. The presentation was on behalf of the Medical Library Association (MLA) comprising more than 400 institutions and 2,500 professional health sciences and medical librarians and a joint collaboration between the Latinx Caucus and the Social Justice and Health Disparities Caucus. Both Weeks and Williams shared information regarding how these medical subject headings impact indexing and searching of biomedical and health equity studies and the importance of addressing problematic terminologies

Starting with I: Combating Anti-Blackness in Libraries

When millions saw the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota by the police during the COVID-19 pandemic where Black, along with Indigenous and Latinx, people had higher death rates, this led to a major awakening from white Americans that Black lives and Black bodies are treated differently. In response, many libraries issued statements supporting Black people in general and supporting their Black library workers. These statements were commitments to make change and to impact the inequities in libraries. As time passed after these statements, reading lists, LibGuides, and reading groups were created, Black bodies are still being harmed; so, where do we go from here? Start and end with I: This editorial details this concept and provides concrete steps for making change. Library workers must know the field’s anti-Black racist history and address its ongoing presence. As individuals and in institutions, library workers and library leaders must take concrete steps for combating anti-Black racism in libraries. The Black Lives Matter movement benefits all of the oppressed because its tenets, when applied, address intersectionality and combat bias and discrimination for all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. It is time to center the voices that have been dismissed and ignored for far too long. Are you willing to do what it takes

Letter to NLM about MeSH

A letter written to the National Library of Medicine addressing concerns regarding the problematic medical subject heading, Blacks , other problematic terms, and the process by which they are selected. The letter concludes with recommendations for improvement by the authors and endorsed by several hundred signatories. In total, the letter was signed by 726 library workers from around the world and sent by email to National Library of Medicine representatives on Friday, June 10th, 2022. In addition, it was also shared with the Medical Library Association which distributed it through their website under the op-ed, Open Letter to NLM Regarding MeSH Term Changes and later as an MLAConnect post titled, NLM Responds to Librarians’ Open Letter re: MeSH Term Changes

Session 1C: Virtual Chat & Chew: Radical Self-Care for BIPOC Information Professionals

In her book, A Burst of Light and Other Essays (1988), Audre Lord says, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” This quote captures the African American Medical Librarians Alliance (AAMLA) Caucus’ motivation for establishing the “Chat and Chew” initiative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AAMLA members formed a weekly virtual forum known as the “Chat & Chew.” These weekly check-ins aimed to build community and provide support amidst unprecedented health crises adversely affecting Black Americans, including the coronavirus pandemic and the long-standing issue of police killings and brutality. In coming together for these weekly check-ins, group participants benefited by actively practicing self-care and exchanging ideas and information with colleagues nationwide. Each gathering incorporated various presentations and discussions, including topics related to self-care and wellness, microaggressions and stigmatization in the workplace, virtual technologies, plant care, book discussions, and opportunities to engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Presenters will share lessons learned and successes for member engagement and best practices that made the program sustainable throughout 2020 until the present day. Outcomes By the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: Discuss the benefits of creating a virtual community for self-care and wellbeing Identify best practices they may use to create a similar virtual support network. Describe helpful resources and practical strategies for integrating self-care and well-being into their daily lives

New to health sciences librarianship: strategies, tips, and tricks

Three new librarians highlight their varied pathways into health sciences librarianship and offer insight into how they are navigating the challenges and successes of being new to the profession. The authors define a new health sciences librarian as a person who has fewer than five years of experience in health sciences librarianship specifically, having either recently graduated from library school or entered the health sciences from another type of librarianship. Jamia Williams speaks about her journey from new MLS graduate to health science librarian; Kelsa Bartley details her transition from library professional to health science librarian; and Jahala Simuel shares her experiences moving from academic librarian to health science librarian. This commentary provides strategies, tips, and tricks that new health sciences librarians may use to hone their craft and explore opportunities for professional development

Assessment and Success Metrics in Post-MLIS Residency Programs

The Residency Interest Group Assessment Team distributed a questionnaire to current and former library residents and staff affiliated with library residency programs: 107 respondents completed the Resident Survey, and 44 completed the Program Survey. Both questionnaires, distributed in the 2020-2021 academic year, asked respondents to rate the success of their residency programs and to rate and select from factors contributing to the success and assessment of residents and programs. Question text makes up the header of each column of responses. Open-ended responses accompanying the program success ranking question are not included for identifiable information. Aggregate data from demographic questions 23 and 24 on the Resident Survey are included