Naomi Bishop Receives National Recognition from Library Association

Naomi Bishop, MLIS, AHIP, University of Arizona Health Sciences librarian with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, has received the “I Love My Librarian” award, which is presented to 10 recipients by the American Library Association (ALA) and is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

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“This award is a huge honor, and I am grateful that the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix faculty and staff have recognized me. I feel appreciated and thankful to work with so many amazing faculty, staff and students,” Bishop said. “It was also rewarding to see just how much physicians and students and the public needed information, and how I could be an important resource during this pandemic.”

Every year, library patrons across the United States nominate their favorite librarian for the award. Out of 1,865 nominations the ALA received this year, Bishop was selected for being “a champion for social justice” and providing research that formed the basis for new safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“She is hands down one of the best librarians I have ever worked with in my academic medicine career with regard to collaboration on education, research and grant proposal projects,” said Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, MD, director of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Narrative Medicine Program. “I have been continuously impressed with Ms. Bishop’s collegiality and student-centric, servant leadership.”

Over the summer of 2020, Bishop co-created a guide that educated students, faculty, and staff on intentional and unconscious bias, which drew from peer-reviewed research in the medical education literature.

“Her influence and leadership resulted in concrete changes in our current curriculum and will continue to influence the curriculum in the future,” said Will Heise, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine and research director of the Division of Toxicology. “This will change the way we present and discuss genetics, ancestry and race.”

Early in the pandemic, Bishop was approached by several physicians and community members with questions that directly impacted Maricopa County’s safety policies. Bishop’s immediate and well-researched responses directly informed new mandates put forward by local policymakers.

Bishop also supported the campus community during the pandemic by delivering easy access to e-textbooks and academic workshops, implementing a virtual game night for students, and holding virtual summer story time sessions for staff and their young children.