Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the Medical Library Association: a look back at the last twenty-five years

JJ Pionke; Thane Chambers; Marisol Hernandez; Brenda Linares; Beverly Murphy; Kelsa Bartley; Brandon T. Pieczko; Dean Giustini

doi:10.5195/jmla.2024.1967

Authors

JJ Pionke Syracuse University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3261-7684
Thane Chambers University of Alberta https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7922-4992
Marisol Hernandez College of American Pathologists https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9804-6853
Brenda Linares, AHIP University of Missouri at Kansas City
Beverly Murpy, AHIP, FMLA Duke University Medical Center Library Archives https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1982-1100
Kelsa Bartley University of Miami Miller School of Medicine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8021-8469
Brandon T. Pieczko Indiana University School of Medicine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0054-7260
Dean Giustini UBC Biomedical Branch Library https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6197-8788

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2024.1967

Keywords:

diversity, equity, inclusion, history, retrospective, social justice

Abstract

Over the past twenty-five years, the Medical Library Association (MLA) has pursued a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This article, written by members of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA)’s Equity Advisory Group (EAG), outlines significant measures taken to raise awareness about specific concepts, opportunities, and challenges related to DEI among MLA members. Topics discussed include the impact of influential Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) leaders, the establishment of DEI and social justice-focused membership communities, and specific initiatives led by various working groups and committees which have served to strengthen MLA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion during the last three decades.

Author Biographies

JJ Pionke, Syracuse University

Instructor of Information, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Thane Chambers, University of Alberta

University of Alberta Library, Edmonton, Canada

Marisol Hernandez, College of American Pathologists

Medical Librarian Specialist, College of American Pathologists, Northfield, IL

Brenda Linares, AHIP, University of Missouri at Kansas City

Associate Dean of Library Services, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO

Beverly Murpy, AHIP, FMLA, Duke University Medical Center Library Archives

Assistant Director at Duke University Medical Center Library Archives, Durham, NC

Kelsa Bartley, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Librarian Associate Professor, Education and Outreach Librarian, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL

Brandon T. Pieczko, Indiana University School of Medicine

Digital and Special Collections Librarian, Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Dean Giustini, UBC Biomedical Branch Library

UBC Biomedical Branch Library, Vancouver Hospital, Vancouver, Canada

References

Pionke JJ. Medical Library Association Diversity and Inclusion Task Force 2019 survey report. J Med Libr Assoc. 2020 Jul 1;108(3):503-512. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2020.948.

Rosa K, Henke K. 2017 ALA demographic study [Internet]. Chicago, IL: ALA Office for Research and Statistics [rev Jan 2017; cited 19 Apr 2024]. http://hdl.handle.net/11213/19804.

Jones SD. Beverly Murphy, AHIP, FMLA, Medical Library Association president, 2018–2019. J Med Assoc. 2018 Oct; 106(4): 411. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2018.575.

Ledbetter LS. Proceedings, ninety-seventh annual meeting Medical Library Association, Inc. Seattle, Washington May 24-28, 1997. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1998 Jan;86(1):117-43 [cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/16018060.

Morgan-Daniel J, Goodman XY, Franklin SG, Bartley K, Noe MN, Pionke JJ. Medical Library Association Diversity and Inclusion Task Force report. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021 Jan 1;109(1):141-153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2021.1112.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Committee charge. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [rev. May 2020; cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/Committee-Instances/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-committee/.

Latinx Caucus. Latinx Caucus. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/communities/latinx-caucus/.

Medical Library Association. Caucus project of the year award. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/Awards/caucus-project-of-the-year-award/.

Social Justice and Health Disparities Caucus. History. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/article/social-justice-and-health-disparities-caucus-history/.

Relevant Issues Section. Relevant Issues Section bylaws. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [rev. May 2012; cited 19 Apr 2024]. URL is not available to the public.

Social Justice and Health Disparities Caucus. About. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/communities/social-justice-and-health-disparities-caucus/.

Social Justice and Health Disparities Caucus. MLA Social Justice and Health Disparities Caucus solidarity statement. MLANET [Internet]. Chicago, IL: The Association [rev. 2 June 2012; cited 19 Apr 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/article/mla-social-justice-and-health-disparities-caucus-solidarity-statement/.

Jones, S, Bartley, K, DeSantis, M, Harris, R, Jason, D, Rios, D. Braving our blind spots: using a virtual book discussion group to continue conversations on implicit bias in libraries. In: Lee C, Lym B, editors. Implementing excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion: a handbook for academic libraries. Chicago, IL: ACRL, 2022.