Cultural Humility in a Multi-Institutional Network of Libraries: A Move Towards Equity

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM CT

Presenter and Author(s)

Zoe Unno

Education and Outreach Librarian
NNLM PSR, California

Slides Slides and Audio
Nora Franco

Consumer Health Librarian
Network of the National Library of Medicine Pacific Southwest Region / UCLA Biomedical Library
Los Angeles, California

Author(s)

Carolyn Martin, MLS, AHIP

Consumer Health Coordinator
Network of the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region
Seattle, Washington
Tess Wilson, MLIS, MFA

All of Us Community Engagement Coordinator
Network of the National Library of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region
Pittsburgh
Tony Nguyen, MLIS, AHIP

Executive Director
Network of the National Library of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region
Baltimore, Maryland
April Wright, MLS

Environmental Health Program Specialist
NNLM/University of Maryland, Baltimore
Baltimore, MD, US

Background: Addressing health disparities and inequities requires an understanding of the diverse communities that healthcare organizations and the institutions and community groups that collaborate with them. Health sciences libraries are included in this group and contribute to eliminating the disparities in their work with providers, community-based organizations, and consumers.

Description: A multi-institutional network of libraries formed a Cultural Humility Advisory Team (CHAT) to advise on matters of strategy and policy pertaining to the efforts to embody, build capacity, and respond to issues and challenges around cultural humility, equity, and inclusion within the institutions through their outreach, products, and services. The team members’ work included an exploration and understanding of existing and ongoing organizational efforts; identification of micro-aggressions and micro-assaults; solutions to efforts around cultural humility, equity and inclusion; and recommendation and implementation of training resources and programs. The impact was assessed by resource usage and training attendance.

Conclusion: This talk will present the inaugural year efforts and successes towards reducing heath disparities and inequities.