Becoming Essential: Lessons Learned from Creating a Health Education Webinar Series

In early spring 2020, two new designations entered the cultural conversation to describe and differentiate all employed people: essential and non-essential. These labels helped to distinguish which occupations, industries, and employees were absolutely necessary to stay functioning as initially designed. Business restrictions placed on non-essential employees by state and federal health guidance, such as quarantining and working from home, were meant to prevent exposure to and the spread of COVID-19. Healthcare is considered one of those critical infrastructure sectors, yet as many as 1.4 million hospital workers were laid off as early as April 2020 (1). Medical libraries were among those hospital departments that were severely reduced either in salary, budget, or employees. Before the pandemic, those who worked long enough in the field of health science librarianship knew the unfortunate fact that they were most likely considered non-essential by hospital administrators long before the pandemic. The pressure to demonstrate value as part of a non-revenue generating entity such as a library in times of economic challenge is reiterated constantly by library peers, discussed in countless online librarian blogs, and mentioned in articles published in specialized periodicals such as the Journal of Hospital Librarianship (2). While the Consumer Health Librarian at Greenwich Hospital was among those fortunate enough to continue working remotely without reduced hours or pay, she realized that her responsibilities as a community health information expert and provider were becoming harder to accomplish since the hospital’s visitation policy would restrict the public from entering the hospital campus. With restricted public access to the Medical Library, the Consumer Health Librarian anticipated a drastic reduction in health information search requests and book check-outs. Additionally, she would be unable to maintain vital connections with new and returning walk-in patrons.