Reflections of a First-Time Attendee at EAHIL 2026
Sadaf Ullah, Information Specialist, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
As a first-time attendee and presenter at the EAHIL Conference, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but nothing could have prepared me for how exceptional the experience would be. As an information specialist working within a hospital network in Toronto, Canada, I was curious to see how my colleagues across the pond approach health librarianship and support clinicians. In particular, I was interested in how they partner with nurses, as this forms the core of my own role. It was especially meaningful to present my own work exploring nurses’ information-seeking behaviours and to share the findings from a project aimed at better understanding their information needs.
As soon as I attended the first-timer reception, I knew I wasn’t in Kansas (Toronto) anymore. I was blown away from the moment the conference began by how, despite differences in culture, language, and approaches to the health library profession, our shared interest in making information accessible, being stewards of knowledge, and bridging the gap between evidence and practice united us all. I also came away with a greater appreciation for the value of perspectives from colleagues outside the usual echo chambers of our immediate surroundings. It’s easy for Canadian information specialists to be insular with just a North American perspective, and having attended this conference, I became aware that there are so many voices out there that we should be taking into consideration, and understanding the importance of avenues that keep us all connected.
I left feeling inspired, eager to return to future EAHIL Conferences, and hopeful that more Canadian health information professionals will experience them as well. The opportunity to learn from colleagues beyond our own borders is one I won’t soon forget.