Dear AAHSL Colleagues:

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well and that you were able to find moments of rest, renewal, and care during what I hope was a safe and restorative winter break. As we stepped into the new year, many of us were reminded that the uncertainty, disruption, and societal upheaval that marked much of 2025 did not pause with the start of the new year. 

I want to extend solidarity to our colleagues in Minnesota. I am also holding our colleagues in Portland and in other communities where there has been an increase in ICE interactions that have created added stress, fear, devastation, and uncertainty. I hope you are taking care of yourselves, looking out for one another, and doing what you need to do to stay safe and well during this moment of disruption.

February: A Month for Reflection, Health, and Connection
February is a month rich with observances that hold special meaning for me and for many within the AAHSL community. Throughout the month, we are invited to reflect on health and well-being through American Heart Month, American Women’s Heart Week, and National Wear Red Day. Valentine’s Day and Random Acts of Kindness Week offer reminders of our collective responsibility to prioritize care, compassion, and kindness for ourselves and the people in our circles. National Library Lovers Month calls us to pause and appreciate the essential role libraries and library workers play in our communities. And February is also Black History Month, which for me is a time to reflect, honor, and celebrate the Black professionals whose lives, labor, and leadership have helped shape our profession.

Celebrating Sandra G. Franklin, AAHSL’s First Black President
In the spirit of reflection and gratitude that Black History Month invites, I would like to celebrate Sandra G. Franklin, who retired from Emory University in May 2025 after 42 years of service. Her leadership, service, and presence have left an enduring mark on AAHSL and on the broader field of health sciences librarianship.

Sandra holds the distinction of being the first Black librarian to serve as President of AAHSL since its founding in 1967. While serving as the 2020-2021 president, she guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, leading AAHSL’s transition to virtual collaboration and programming and ensuring essential communication among the medical and health sciences libraries during a global health crisis. As Past President, she chaired the task force that led to a successful vote to grant osteopathic institutional libraries full membership in AAHSL. Standing on her shoulders as the second Black president is both an honor and a responsibility I hold with deep gratitude.

Sandra served as Director of Emory University’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library in Atlanta, Georgia, from 2002 until her retirement, where she was a trusted member of the Emory Libraries leadership team and contributed broadly through campus and library committees and numerous search committees. Her professional service reflects a sustained commitment to leadership, mentorship, and the advancement of the profession.

Her contributions have been recognized at the regional and national levels. Sandra was named the 2015 Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association Academic Librarian of the Year, became a Fellow of the Medical Library Association in 2017, and was selected to deliver the 2021 Janet Doe Lecture, "Diversity That Defines Us: The View Through a Crystal Lens." In 2022, she received the AAHSL Gerald J. Oppenheimer Cornerstone Award for lifetime achievement. In reflecting on that honor, colleagues spoke of her compassion, grace, deep commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, and the many small acts of support through which she strengthened both individuals and the profession.

I first met Sandra at my first the Medical Library Association meeting in May 2003 in San Diego, CA, where I was introduced to her and to members of the African American Medical Librarians Alliance (AAMLA) Special Interest Group (SIG), a MLA Caucus. While Sandra’s contributions to the profession and AAHSL are significant, I believe her greatest impact has been that of mentor and champion for Black librarians entering and navigating the profession. I am one of those librarians.

Sandra has been an excellent mentor, role model, sponsor, and advocate for me and for many others. In my early years as a new professional, she helped me find my footing in health sciences librarianship and in MLA. Through her encouragement, guidance, and example, she taught me to walk in my truth, speak truth to power, advocate for others, engage in courageous conversations, and lead with respect and care. I am a better leader because of the time, wisdom, and generosity she invested in me. Sandra Franklin is a remarkable steward of our profession, and her legacy will continue to guide and inspire for generations to come.

AAHSL Board Retreat: Convening in Charleston
Turning to association news, I am pleased to share that the AAHSL Board convened in Charleston, South Carolina, for our annual board retreat from February 18–20, 2026. I was excited to welcome my colleagues to my home city and appreciated the opportunity to spend focused time working on AAHSL’s strategic priorities.

Future Leadership Committee Updates: Supporting Leadership Transitions and Growth 
on behalf of Judy Cohn, Program Director, AAHSL Future Leadership Committee

As our community continues to experience retirements, interim appointments, and the recruitment of new library leaders, I want to highlight two important resources from the AAHSL Future Leadership Committee that support leadership development and succession planning across our member libraries.

Director Recruitment Guide
The recently updated AAHSL Director Recruitment Guide is a valuable tool for senior administrators, search committees, and university leadership involved in recruiting new library deans and directors. The Guide includes practical information on working with search firms, conducting position analysis, and understanding the role of search committees. Members are encouraged to share this resource with senior university officials in preparation for upcoming library dean or director searches at AAHSL institutions.

AAHSL Leadership Scholarships
This coming spring, there will be a call for AAHSL Leadership Scholarships, generously funded by the AAHSL Board. These scholarships support up to four applicants with awards of $1,500 each to attend a professional development program that advances their leadership profile.

Information about past recipients and the programs they attended, along with reflections provided by scholarship awardees, is available on the AAHSL website. An announcement will be posted to the AAHSL-ALL listerv when the application period opens. I encourage eligible members to stay tuned and to consider applying or nominating a colleague.

Upcoming February E-Forums and Trainings: Learn, Connect, and Grow
I also want to remind you about several upcoming AAHSL learning opportunities taking place in February. Please carve out time to join us for enrichment, connection, and shared learning.

Trauma-Informed Care Workshop Series
The AAHSL Belonging and Community Engagement Committee will host a Trauma-Informed Care Workshop series, led by Nisha Mody. These workshops introduce trauma-informed care through the lens of relational power dynamics, transparency, and trustworthiness, and offer practical tools for cultivating healthier, more supportive workplace environments.

On February 13, 2026, the Belonging and Community Engagement Committee hosted Workshop 1: Navigating Relational Change, led by Nisha Mody, as part of the Trauma-Informed Care Workshop series. We are grateful to all who participated in that thoughtful and engaging session.

There is still time to join us for the second session:

Workshop 2: How to Cultivate Trustworthiness in the Workplace
February 27
11:00 AM–12:30 PM PT / 2:00 PM–3:30 PM ET

I encourage you to register and invite members of your library staff to participate in the upcoming session and to continue engaging in these important conversations.

February eSalon
The Program and Education Committee invites all library directors to the February eSalon, “Reporting Library Statistics to Your Administration,” which will take place on February 26, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EST.

Join colleagues for a peer-to-peer conversation on presenting library statistics to your administration. Together, we will discuss how to decide which data to highlight, who needs to know what, and how to frame your numbers to resonate with different audiences.

In closing, thank you so much for the important work each of you does daily to support your institutions, your communities, and one another. 

Yours in Service,