Welcome Reception

Entertainment: The Magnolia Singers

 Monday, October 28, 2024

Welcome (Land Acknowledgement/Opening Remarks)

Charleston Poet Laureate: A$iahMae

Keynote: "Competent Humility"

Speaker: Dr. Nicole Cooke

Description: This talk will address the need for library professionals to engage in critical, or radical, self-reflection. In order to serve students and community members in a radical way, particularly during difficult times, we must first be in tune with ourselves and our own capacities for empathy, hospitality, love, honesty, candor, and imagination.

Panelists: Rose L. Bland, Emily J. Hurst, Shannon D. Jones, Gail Kouame, and Philip Walker

Description:  This panel discussion aims to explore the motivations behind why individuals choose to pursue leadership roles in health sciences libraries. By examining personal and professional aspects, the panel seeks to provide insights into the career paths of current leaders, the challenges they have faced, and the impact they hope to make within the profession. The discussion will also highlight the importance of professional development, mentorship, and personal fulfillment in leadership roles.

Keynote: "Steering a Path to Health Equity: Libraries as Partners to Promote Inclusion and Cultural Competency"

Speaker: E. Renee Linyard-Gray

CONBLES Luncheon (Invitation Only)

Keynote: “The Library Will Open Without You: Re-narrating Library Leadership Through the Lens of Low-Morale Experiences”

Speaker: Kaetrena Davis Kendrick

Lunch sponsored by Hospital Librarians Committee

Keynote: "Pandemic Futures: Preparing for Health Crises in the Holy City"

Speaker: Dr. Jacob Steere-Williams

Description: Epidemic preparedness has taken on new social capital since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, communities—and nations—have long anticipated pandemic crises into a public health philosophy of the ‘next.’ It has always been an unsteady future. In this talk, Dr. Steere-Williams explores the vibrant, and sometimes unsettling history of how historical memory plays into public health preparedness, and how local repositories of pandemic history can contribute to ongoing public conversations and policy discussions. Although national in scope, he draws on the rich local history of Charleston for many of his examples.

Panelists: Tamara Nelson, Shannon D. Jones, and Kelsa Bartley

Description: This presentation aims to highlight and bring awareness to the often overlooked yet vital contributions of African American health sciences librarians. It explores their roles in advancing medical knowledge, improving healthcare access, and supporting the academic and research needs of health professionals while also addressing the challenges they face in the field. Through this exploration, the presentation seeks to inspire a greater appreciation and recognition of their work within the broader health sciences community.

Reception at the International African American History Museum

The International African American Museum tells the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations, the trauma and triumph that gave rise to a resilient people. IAAM is located at a former shipping wharf where approximately 40% of the nation's enslaved persons disembarked. The museum opened June 27, 2023, after 20 years of planning.

Entertainment: Seth Gillard; The Palmetto Rose Designers