Collection Equity Award - Providence St. Vincent Medical Center Health Sciences Library/Providence System Library Services

With ongoing social justice initiatives and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, the health sciences library commits to meet the information needs of health care providers at Providence who strive to serve historically marginalized and vulnerable populations. Currently, the library has a small collection of eBooks ranging on topics of racism, ageism, LGBTQIA+, disability, health disparities, and the history of racism and discrimination in medicine. The library plans to expand the existing collection of eBooks to include but not limit to feminist issues, the needs and experiences of indigenous communities, the values and beliefs of health within immigrants and refugee communities, strategies for anti-discrimination in the workplace and mindfulness practices for health care professionals who encounter discrimination.

During promotion of the existing collection, health care staff have provided the library with recommended books they would like to see in the DEI collection. Many have suggested to include topics that intersect with identities such as BIPOC and LGBTQIA+. One provider also shared a list of resources related to transgender health and the history and health of indigenous communities.