JMLA Equity Work Group

In October 2020, the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) Equity Work Group solicited both the Latinx Caucus and the African American Medical Librarians Alliance Caucus (AAMLA) for a volunteer from each to serve on the JMLA Equity Work Group to assist in our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. They will participate in work group meetings, advise on all decisions—such as providing feedback on outreach plans, policy revisions, and so on—and are full members of the work group. They will also act as liaisons to their constituent groups so that the work group may have further input that fosters better relationships and better ideas. As a whole, the work group is better in its work when we have a diversity of people, ideas, and initiatives.

The work group asked for applications and then voted on the applicants. The work group is pleased to announce that, starting in January 2021, the following people will be joining us:

• Kelsa Bartley from MLA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
• Amy Reyes, AHIP, from the Latinx Caucus
• Brenda M. Linares, AHIP, as our MLA Board liaison
• Beverly Murphy, AHIP, FMLA, from AAMLA and as a past president of MLA

We are excited to welcome them to the work group and look forward to working with them as we assess and make changes to JMLA to be a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution.