I support the research, instructional, and informational goals of MBKU students, faculty, and residents in their pursuit of life-long learning. I am the liaison to the PA program but also work closely with the optometry and pharmacy programs. I have taught evidence-based medicine sessions, information literacy searches, provided advanced searching tutorials and have been an active research partner with faculty. I also manage a team of 18 student workers.
Why is MLGSCA important to you?
I care deeply about my profession, and I am brand new here! I want to be a little sponge and learn as much as I can from the incredible librarians in Southern California, Arizona, and beyond!
I was recently invited to be the Chair of the DEI-A Task Force, and I am honored to have an opportunity to put my priorities of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into action. I would like to invite anyone who is interested in working with me towards my goal of filling the DEI-A Taskforce section of the MLGSCA website with highlights from librarians all over our chapter about what they are doing in their libraries. By highlighting the work of others, this allows us to brainstorm for future initiatives in our own libraries and appreciate the excellent work being done around the chapter. Please feel free to email me at ezimmermann@ketchum.edu if you would like to work together or have a conversation about what work you are doing in your library that you would like the chance to highlight!
Why did you become a librarian?
I went to undergrad at the University of Toronto to become an architect. I soon learned that I was absolutely terrible at building models and creating architectural drawings using code. Luckily, there were many other course options available to me within the architecture school: Indigenous studies, urban planning, material culture, forestry, and more. In all of these diverse classes, I unlocked a new sense of intellectual curiosity and found myself exploring as many of the 44 libraries on campus as I could. I knew by my 3rd year that I wanted to be a librarian to help students, dive deeper into the world of academia, and have a job that allowed me to be a lifelong learner.
What was your first library job or professional position?
I applied to just about every position I could and finally landed a position at North Carolina State University Archives as a digitization assistant. I did not enjoy the dusty basement without any human interaction, but I learned a lot!
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?
I recently wrote my thesis about ChatGPT and consumer health information. I wanted to know what medical professionals across disciplines thought about ChatGPT's responses to common patient queries. To my surprise, the sentiment was very positive! Generative AI is extremely fascinating. I am committed to learning about how our students use it and how it might affect their futures as healthcare leaders.
What do you do in your spare time for fun, or to relax?
I love to paint! I love art and lots of color. My paintings are usually big landscapes and floral paintings using acrylic paint. I also paint pet portraits! I love animals.
Describe yourself in five words
happy, colorful, & artsy cat lady!
What are you most proud of?
My immediate family members who have all committed their careers to helping people: my mom who is a lactation consultant and childbirth educator, my dad who was previously a police detective and is now an investigator for the public defender's office, my sister who is in nursing school, and my partner who is a pilot in the Navy. They all keep me going and inspire me daily.
A Chapter of the Medical Library Association
