Staff Bio

Bobbi L. Newman, MLIS, MA

Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist, Region 6

She/Her pronouns 

Bobbi Newman is the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist at Region 6 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine at the University of Iowa Libraries, where she manages projects, designs instruction, oversees grants, and other outreach and engagement to help libraries meet the health information needs of their communities. She is a Senior Librarian and Wellness Ambassador. 

She is the project manager for outreach and engagement projects, including national symposia and collaborations with national organizations. She managed the 2023 Virtual Health Misinformation Symposium and the 2021 Symposium on library staff health and wellness, with over 3,000 attendees. She led the NNLM partnerships with ALA, PLA, and ARSL. 

She designed some of NNLM’s popular instructional courses, including Wellness in the Library Workplace in-person and virtual versions and Bridging The Digital Health Divide: Empowering Library Users Moodle course as part of the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) on Demand courses. She co-designed the Exploring Complementary and Integrative Health online course, Beyond an Apple a Day 4-hour in-person course, and Stand Up for Health: Health and Wellness in Your Community, both online and in-person. She has designed and delivered countless presentations.

She is the author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Guide for Libraries (ALA Editions) and editor for the forthcoming A Manager’s Guide to Creating a Flourishing Workplace: Strategies for Fostering Wellness in Libraries (ALA Editions). She has received awards for her project management and instruction. Bobbi is a mindfulness student, and a body acceptance advocate.

Classes I Teach

Event Title Summary
Copy of Wellness in the Library Workplace (February 5-16, 2024) Join us for this 2-week, 4 credit-hour online class to discover ways to improve your own personal well-being and create a healthy workplace. We will discuss ways to increase overall wellness for all staff in libraries so that we have happy, healthy, and safe work environments. This class meets the NLM national initiative of environmental determinants of health by addressing aspects of the work environment by providing health information resources available through MedlinePlus and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and increasing health information access.
Exploring Complementary and Integrative Health: Information, Resources, and Evaluation This class will explore the definitions of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH), encompassing both Eastern and Western medicine perspectives. We will delve into various approaches to CIH, discussing their associated risks and benefits. We will also equip you with strategies to help your users discern trustworthy CIH information and avoid fraudulent claims.
Exploring Complementary and Integrative Health: Information, Resources, and Evaluation This class will explore the definitions of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH), encompassing both Eastern and Western medicine perspectives. We will delve into various approaches to CIH, discussing their associated risks and benefits. We will also equip you with strategies to help your users discern trustworthy CIH information and avoid fraudulent claims.
Fatness and libraries: Amplifying the Voices of Fat Librarians in DEIA work, A Region 6 Spotlight Speaker Join us for a one-hour webinar with Meg Galasso as she delves into the important topics of weight discrimination, fat representation, and anti-fatness in the library profession. Drawing from comprehensive interviews with public-facing librarians across different library types, including public, school, academic, and special libraries, this webinar will provide valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of these professionals. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding these
Fostering Connection: Addressing Library Employee Loneliness, a Region 6 Spotlight Speaker Webinar Join guest speaker Alejandro Marquez (he/him) to learn about loneliness among library staff and practical strategies to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment.
From Contraception to Menopause: Identifying and Addressing Reproductive Health Misinformation Reliable information about reproductive health has never been more important. However, taboos, legal restrictions, and a dearth of women's health research have enabled misinformation to flourish, with dire implications for health outcomes. This talk will provide an overview of the prevalence, characteristics, and impacts of reproductive health misinformation.
Holding Space to Discuss a Complicated Past: Exploring Medical Libraries’ Role in Perpetuating Racial Science, A Region 6 Spotlight Speaker Webinar Join Raymond Pun, Nicollette Davis, and Patrice R. Green for a webinar presentation based on their recent commentary in the Journal of Medical Library Association (JMLA) titled "Medical Libraries and Their Complicated Past: An Exploration of the Historical Connections Between Medical Collections and Racial Science." The presentation will explore the historical ties between medical libraries and racial science, focusing on empire-building. Attendees, particularly those involved in library instruction, will gain valuable insights into how medical sciences and collections have been influenced by racial science discourse, which continues to impact today's medical practices for patients who identify as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color.
NNLM Book Discussion, Aug 14 - Oct 31: The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O'Rourke Join us August 14 - October 31 to discussion "The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness" by Meghan O'Rourke
NNLM Book Discussion, May 2 - July 31, Doing Harm You are invited to join us for the first NNLM Book Discussion. From May 1 until July 31, join your fellow librarians and read Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick by Maya Dusenbery! 
NNLM Book Discussion: "You Just Need to Lose Weight" And 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon, August 1, 2024 – October 31, 2024 Join us August 1 – October 31, 2024, to discuss the book "You Just Need to Lose Weight" And 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon.

Contact Information