**Authors:**<br />
Carolyn Martin, Consumer Health Coordinator, Network of the National Library of Medicine - Pacific Northwest Region; Madelena Romansic, Program Analyst & Communications Specialist, Network of the National Library of Medicine - Pacific Northwest Region
**Abstract:**<br />
The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) formed a
Diversity Task Force to identify and address areas of inequity in the
profession and healthcare and found the library community had a deep hunger
for professional development opportunities around DEI. AAHSL responded by
partnering with their own Program & Education committee, the Medical
Library Association (MLA) and the Network of the National Library of
Medicine (NNLM). Together these three organizations sought to provide a
space for conversations and learning among library staff through the
nine-part webinar series, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Nine
Conversations that Matter to Health Sciences Librarians with Jessica
Pettitt”. The sessions spanned a year, from June 2019 through August 2020,
progressing through DEI topics, starting with introductions to the concepts
of social justice and diversity, through topics around race, sexuality,
gender, health inequities, and finishing with guided self-examination. In
the midst of the series libraries and the world were facing a health
pandemic and social unrest. The series came at a crucial time where
marginalized populations and health inequities became headline news. The
series had its challenges but overall provided essential information to
attendees and sparked important conversations regarding race, gender,
abilities, and culture around health and society overall. The series laid a
foundation to build upon, continuing efforts to increase diversity in the
profession, recognize and address microaggressions and systemic and
institutional racism, and incorporate ways to become inclusive and provide
equitable opportunities.
