From Burnout to Bloom Room: Visible and Valued: Centering Belonging in Medical Libraries Through Curated Book Displays
Event Type
Lightning Talk
Start Date
25-7-2025 1:15 PM
End Date
25-7-2025 2:00 PM
Description
This lightning talk discusses the creation of book displays highlighting collections and titles that align with heritage, health awareness, and identity months at an academic medical library. In the midst of and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic the co-presenters saw a need to re-engage with patrons physically in the library space. One avenue is the creation of consistent book displays. Medical and health sciences libraries do not frequently prioritize recreational reading or engagement in outreach “soft” skills. Despite patron and library worker interest, there has been pushback from colleagues about the purpose, time commitment, and impact of updating displays. The co-presenters argue that these displays demonstrate that the medical library is a space for all users, a place for academic rigor and leisure, and that library workers should support patrons as whole people. While metrics and data are necessary for determining sustainability and impact, we suggest that these displays enhance patrons' sense of belonging at the university and specifically within the medical library. The talk will discuss strategies, workflows, and our perspective on the success of these displays. We will consider barriers moving forward within the confines of the current political atmosphere.
Outcomes
- Attendees are able to articulate why balancing community and belonging is necessary for student success and usage of library resources and services
- Attendees are empowered to think critically and holistically about library collections as an avenue for community engagement
From Burnout to Bloom Room: Visible and Valued: Centering Belonging in Medical Libraries Through Curated Book Displays
This lightning talk discusses the creation of book displays highlighting collections and titles that align with heritage, health awareness, and identity months at an academic medical library. In the midst of and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic the co-presenters saw a need to re-engage with patrons physically in the library space. One avenue is the creation of consistent book displays. Medical and health sciences libraries do not frequently prioritize recreational reading or engagement in outreach “soft” skills. Despite patron and library worker interest, there has been pushback from colleagues about the purpose, time commitment, and impact of updating displays. The co-presenters argue that these displays demonstrate that the medical library is a space for all users, a place for academic rigor and leisure, and that library workers should support patrons as whole people. While metrics and data are necessary for determining sustainability and impact, we suggest that these displays enhance patrons' sense of belonging at the university and specifically within the medical library. The talk will discuss strategies, workflows, and our perspective on the success of these displays. We will consider barriers moving forward within the confines of the current political atmosphere.
Outcomes
- Attendees are able to articulate why balancing community and belonging is necessary for student success and usage of library resources and services
- Attendees are empowered to think critically and holistically about library collections as an avenue for community engagement
