MLGSCA/NCNMLG 2026 Joint Meeting | All In: Betting on the Future of Medical Libraries

Speakers and Presenters

Plenary Presenter

Emma Frances Bloomfield, PhD

Associate Professor, Communication Studies

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Emma Frances Bloomfield (PhD, University of Southern California) is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is a rhetorician who studies science communication about controversial topics. She has published two books: Science v Story: Narrative Strategies for Science Communicators (University of California Press, 2024) and Communication Strategies for Climate Skepticism: Religion and the Environment (Routledge, 2019). She is the founder and director of the Public Communication Initiative, which fosters community partnerships around addressing local needs such as heat resilience and environmental justice.

Narrative Strategies to Intervene in Science and Medical Controversies

Sunday January 18, 2026, 9:00a-10:00a, 50 minute presentation, 10 minute Q&A

Medical crises such as COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy challenge public trust in scientific and medical institutions. One strategy for regaining public trust is to emphasize the power of storytelling. In this talk, Emma Frances Bloomfield examines communication strategies such as storytelling, dialogue, and collaboration as vehicles for engaging people in controversial topics surrounding health, medicine, and bodies.

After her presentation, attendees will have the chance to meet, continue the conversation and discuss her new book Science v. Story: Narrative Strategies for Science Communicators. Copies will be able for purchase on-site.

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State of the Medical Library Association Update

Saturday, January 17, 9:15 - 10:00 am

Heather Holmes, MLA President

Heather Holmes, AHIP, is currently Associate Director of Libraries at the Medical University of South Carolina. Heather is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Library, including supervision of a diverse staff of librarians, technologists, and support staff in areas including reference, education, evidence-based practice, resources/collections, and learning commons. 

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NNLM update for Regions 4 and 5

Saturday, January 17, 10:00 - 10:30 am

John Bramble, NNLM Region 4 and NTO Executive Director, Region 4, NTO

Carolyn Martin, Outreach and Education Coordinator, NNLM Region 5

Carolyn Martin focuses on organizations who work with underserved populations such as those who live in rural areas, older adults, those with various abilities, immigrants and refugees, and other minorities. The National Library of Medicine offers a variety of resources on health and science education which she highlights to K-12 educators, school nurses and school librarians to prepare students for biomedical careers as well as to be informed health consumers. Carolyn's interests include, health literacy, genomic health literacy, accessibility, and health news. Carolyn received her undergraduate degree from Goshen College and her MLS from Indiana University. She has been a public librarian and a hospital librarian where working with the public and patients led to her current position.

For more information and to register:

MLGSCA/NCNMLG 2026 Joint Meeting | All In: Betting on the Future of Medical Libraries