Mapping the pathways to health sciences librarianship: reflections and future implications from an immersion session

Area of Science:

• Library and Information Science
• Health Sciences Librarianship

Background:

• Many health sciences librarians lack specialized health sciences training.
• Formal education in Library and Information Science (LIS) programs is not the sole entry point.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map existing and potential pathways into health sciences librarianship.
• To identify strategies for making these pathways more equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

Main Methods:

• An immersion session at the Medical Library Association conference in 2022.
• Small group discussions and thematic analysis of librarian experiences.

Main Results:

• Key pathways identified include LIS education, internships, on-the-job training, mentoring, self-teaching, and continuing education.
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion were recurring themes throughout the discussions.

Conclusions:

• Community building is vital for a profession with varied entry points.
• Understanding and enhancing career pathways can address barriers to entry and strengthen the field.