Developing Pathways to Health Sciences Librarianship with an Introductory Course and Mentoring Program.

Area of Science:

• Library and Information Science
• Health Sciences Librarianship

Background:

• Gaps exist in Library and Information Science (LIS) programs and continuing education regarding health sciences librarianship.
• Library students and early-career librarians often lack awareness of health sciences career paths.
• Barriers hinder underrepresented groups from entering health sciences librarianship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore online education and mentoring as solutions for introductory health sciences librarianship training.
• To develop and pilot an online course and mentoring program for aspiring health sciences librarians.
• To assess the program's impact on awareness, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the field.

Main Methods:

• Development of a pilot online "Introduction to Health Sciences Librarianship" course.
• Implementation of a complementary mentoring program.
• Analysis of participant feedback through a survey.

Main Results:

• The pilot program provided introductory educational content and mentorship.
• Participant survey data offered insights into program effectiveness and areas for improvement.
• The program demonstrated potential for addressing awareness and EDI gaps.

Conclusions:

• Online education and mentoring can effectively bridge introductory knowledge gaps in health sciences librarianship.
• The pilot program shows promise for increasing diversity and inclusion in the profession.
• Further research and program development are needed to optimize offerings and impact.