by Rob Penfold | May 18, 2026 | News
This survey – held once every three years – is now open and closes 14th June
Visit the site for more information and to complete the survey
Doing so helps increase the visibility of health librarians …
Why it is important for health librarians to be included in a Specialist Digital Health Workforce Census
Including health librarians in a specialist digital health workforce census is critical because it makes visible a workforce that is central to safe, effective, and evidence‑informed digital health systems. Health librarians work at the intersection of clinical care, research, information governance, digital literacy, and health informatics. When we are excluded from workforce data collections, our contributions are rendered invisible to policymakers, funders, and senior health administrators.
A digital health workforce census can be used to:
- map current workforce capability
- identify skills gaps and future needs
- inform funding, workforce planning, and training priorities
- demonstrate workforce impact on health system outcomes
If librarians are not counted, the data inevitably underrepresents the true breadth of specialist digital health expertise within hospitals and health services. This can lead to:
- underinvestment in library and knowledge services
- assumptions that digital health skills sit only with IT or clinical informatics roles
- missed opportunities to leverage librarians’ expertise in areas such as evidence synthesis, data quality, AI governance, and digital capability building
Inclusion in the census formally recognises health librarians as part of the digital health ecosystem rather than as an “optional support service”.
by Rob Penfold | Mar 12, 2026 | Events
“A four-day, free, virtual professional development event for information professionals supporting evidence synthesis services in libraries and other information workplaces”
Registration is free and includes the full schedule of symposium sessions. All sessions will in English, held on Zoom, with Zoom-integrated captioning and transcripts available.
Shortly before the event, you will receive an access link for the LESSS Zoom event by email
Registration closes on June 11, 2026.
Sessions (except for networking events and roundtables) will be recorded with transcripts, but presenters may chose to not release that recording for viewing after the conference
View the Symposium home page
by Rob Penfold | Feb 2, 2026 | News
Three good reasons to complete:
- Very short (only 11 questions)
- Only one of the questions is mandatory – basically you only need to respond where you have something to say …
- It will be very helpful to the HLA Committee for shaping strategies, directions, events & more
You have no doubt returned to work bright-eyed & bushy tailed, and eager to advance health librarianship. So grab a cuppa 🍵 and let us know your thoughts:
➡️ HLA Survey 2026 ⬅️
by Rob Penfold | Jan 16, 2026 | Events
📝 Event Description
This hands-on workshop will show you how to use Canva to create engaging and professional videos for library promotion and education resources. This session covers:
• Editing a Canva video template
• Image and text editing, animations and effects
• Using Canva record and screen capture
By the end of this training, you will have created your own short video ready to share for library promotion or educational purposes.
People who have prior experience with Canva will get the most out of this session. There will be hands-on activities. Participants will need access to a Canva account prior to the webinar.
👉 Numbers restricted to 40 participants – get in quick
🧑🏫 Trainers
• Eunice Ang – Medical Librarian, Northern Health
• Keren Moskal – Clinical Librarian and Education Lead – Monash Health
✅ ALIA HLA Competencies
C4: Leadership and management
C6: Health literacy and teaching
View HLA Competencies
🧗♀️ Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Worth 1 hour towards the Health Professional Development Scheme
🕐 When
Tuesday, 5 May 2026 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm AEST (75 minutes)
🌏 Where
Online Zoom webinar – a link will be sent the day prior.
💸 Cost
ALIA Members – $40 (savings of $35 if you were an HLA Member)
Non-Members – $75
✍️ Register
Register / More information
by Rob Penfold | Jan 16, 2026 | News
I am working on a research project about health librarians’ knowledge and use of topic & methodological search filters in Australia and New Zealand. This research project was one of the winners of the HLA Anne Harrison Award in 2024.
The aim of the survey is to gather information on whether health librarians are aware of topic & methodological search filters, whether librarians use them and where librarians are getting these filters from.
Take the survey here (Takes 5-10 minutes)
I am using “health librarian” loosely. Basically if:
- You have previously worked or are currently working in a health/medical library setting, and
- You have heard of topic or methodological search filters,
you are eligible to take part in the survey 😊
It doesn’t matter if your job title isn’t strictly “librarian”, or if you have never used topic or methodological search filters. I still want to hear from you if you fulfil the two criteria above.
Your participation will be greatly appreciated! Please feel free to 👉 forward this survey on to your colleagues as well.
If you have any questions, please email me at eunice.ang@nh.org.au
