CHLA 2025 CONFERENCE OTHER CONTENT / ABSC CONGRÈS 2025 AUTRES CONTENUS

TL;DR

This paper discusses strategies for health librarians to advocate for their services and engage with healthcare professionals through outreach.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new team structure with outreach librarians and provides actionable strategies for advocacy and communication.

Findings

Implementing outreach librarians for specific client groups improves tailored services and communication.

Advocacy strategies and value statements help librarians showcase their impact to institutional leaders.

Collaborative discussions and exercises aid in developing effective outreach and advocacy practices.

Abstract

It is difficult to remember when our health libraries were not facing significant challenges. Funding cuts, staff reductions, space reallocations, and health library closures have become all too common. Decision-makers must better understand the critical value our libraries and library teams bring to their organizations. Learn how to strategically define and draft organizational values, priorities, and strengths and effectively communicate them to institutional leaders. This facilitated discussion will focus on advocacy's role in helping solo librarians and library leaders define the value and impact of services. Pre-readings will be shared, and participants will have time to draft and reflect on advocacy strategies, explore writing value statements, and use them to direct their professional practice and refine their communication approaches. Group discussions and exercises will help participants think about how to develop strategies for supporting health library teams showcase services, demonstrate and promote their greatest strengths, manage difficult situations, navigate funding shortages, and communicate our essential contributions to the healthcare sector.

1) Identify what information is needed to help inform difficult workplace decisions. 2) Define and articulate an advocacy strategy to direct and showcase library work. 3) Use value statements to discuss the library's vital role within larger organizational structures. Pre-readings and worksheets will be provided. The session will begin with a facilitated discussion followed by group activities. Individuals will be encouraged to complete worksheets during the session. There will be opportunities to share work and solicit peer feedback.

The evolving role of hospital librarians has highlighted the importance of proactive outreach to ensure that library services meet the dynamic needs of healthcare professionals. In response to this, our library implemented a new team structure with three outreach librarian positions, each dedicated to a specific client group: nursing, health disciplines, and medicine. Over the past year, we have employed a range of strategies to build meaningful relationships, enhance communication, and provide tailored services to these groups. This roundtable session invites health librarians engaged in outreach - or those seeking to develop outreach strategies - to share and discuss their experiences. Participants will explore common challenges, innovative solutions, and lessons learned from engaging with healthcare professionals in diverse roles. Whether you are building a program from the ground up or refining existing initiatives, this session provides an opportunity to collaborate and learn from others navigating similar journeys.

(1) Discuss outreach strategies used to connect with distinct healthcare client groups, (2) Share common challenges, practical solutions in building relationships and promoting library services, (3) Identify actionable takeaways for improving proactive engagement with healthcare staff.

The session will be structured as an open roundtable discussion. Facilitators will guide the conversation with targeted questions, encourage participants to brainstorm solutions, and share successful practices.