Many library professionals that work alone, can sometimes feel like they work in a bubble. It’s often difficult to readily source peer support and feedback. Additionally, it’s difficult not having access to fresh perspectives, particularly when trying to build and maintain professional skills and competencies. Professional associations such as CHLA-ABSC do offer opportunities for support, community, and development, but often these fora can be quite formal, and are not necessarily appropriate places for members to speak frankly, and with a sense of psychological safety. This highlights the need for informal connections to fill in those gaps. By reaching out informally to peers in external organizations, Information professionals can provide neutral, judgement-free support that might not otherwise be available.
In 2024, librarians from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Oak Valley Health (Markham Stouffville Hospital), and the Sault Area Hospital, connected to create an informal virtual space, to obtain peer support for common issues, resolving tricky literature searches, PRESS reviewers if needed, and a safe place to vent. It’s called the "Not-So-Solo-Librarians" (NSSL) group. It's an informal network of solo medical librarians that have harnessed the power of informal peer support; allowing for flexibility, psychological safety, and a reliable sounding board. These opportunities can also enable "career reflections", allowing members to explore how to make the most of their own career paths. We encourage other similarly situated health information professionals, to form their own informal networks, to enable collegial and mutually beneficial relationships.