Redefining Professionalism: Reflection on What Professionalism Looks Like in 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EDT

Location: 142C

Primary Contact(s)

Soph Myers-Kelley (they/them/theirs)

Medical Librarian
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

Slides

Presenter(s)

Chloe Hough, AHIP

Reference Librarian
Tampa Bay Regional Campus Library, Florida
Jamia Williams (she/her/hers)

Consumer Health Program Specialist
University of Utah/The Network of the National Library of Medicine/Training Office
Rochester, New York
MR

Melissa L. Rethlefsen, MSLS, AHIP

Executive Director & Professor
University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center
Maud Mundava

Campus Head/Assistant University Librarian
A.T. Still Memorial Library
Kirksville, Missouri

Session

Overview:

Professionalism as a term and approach has historically been weaponized in an effort to maintain the status quo throughout the information profession, including within libraries. Join us in this immersion session to unpack what professionalism historically has represented and who benefits from being considered a professional by default. Learn with us about the importance of framing professionalism in a more equitable, inclusive way by individually redefining professionalism as well as strategizing how to support everyone who works in libraries so they feel empowered as professionals.

Instructional

Methods:

The session will start with a panel of speakers covering the topic of professionalism and why the term is outdated. Speakers will share recommendations for how participants can reframe the term to make the workplace more inclusive. After the panel presentations, participants will play a version of the board game Life so they can put themselves in the shoes of others with differing identities.

Participant Engagement:

There will be a Q&A session for the panelists and we plan to use polling software to allow participants to “vote up” questions posed by others. The Life board game will be played at each table and will give participants an opportunity to interact in small groups. After game play, tables will be asked to volunteer insights learned from the game.

Sponsor(s):

Professionalism and Leadership Hub, Hospital Libraries Caucus, Pharmacy and Drug Information Caucus, Social Justice & Health Disparities Caucus, and Latinx Caucus
Learning Objectives:
Redefine the professional development agenda at a personal level with compassionate leadership in mind.
Gain greater confidence in the current understanding of professionalism and its future possibilities, including the emerging aspects of professionalism.
Implement more inclusive professionalism goals and definitions as an agent of change in their workplace and community.
Apply new insights to recruitment, retention, and mentorship in the workplace.