Background: In early 2024, the idea to convene a group to harness Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) members' collective efforts to train and onboard librarians emerged during an AAHSL eSalon meeting. A task force came together through follow-up emails among those who expressed interest in this topic.
Description: The task force's goals were to explore, evaluate, and recommend strategies for establishing a program to onboard and educate individuals new to health sciences librarianship efficiently. This initiative seeks to enhance the transition process for newcomers, ensure they receive comprehensive training and support to excel in health sciences libraries and ease the burden of individual institutions through shared practices and training materials.
Results/Outcomes: Since forming the task force, we have completed a literature review, explored cohort models for new librarians, conducted an environmental scan, and begun developing a scaffolded learning framework to support the onboarding and education of new health science librarians. The task force shared the framework at the annual AAHSL meeting (November 2024) for review and feedback. This initiative, which began at a monthly meeting, seeks to prepare librarians for success in health sciences. This session will share lessons learned through the process and review the framework. Library managers and mentors can use the results of this work as a guide for training new health sciences librarians.