Carolyn Dennison started as JABSOM’s new library director this month. Though new to the role here, Carolyn brings a long history of experience in both medical and academic libraries across Hawaiʻi and the UH System.
Dennison comes to JABSOM from Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she supported nursing, dental hygiene, public health, and medical technology programs. Before that, she worked at The Queen’s Medical Center and the Hawaiʻi Medical Library.
“It wasn’t part of my original plan,” she said. “My background is actually in American history, with a minor in Russian and Soviet history. I dreamed of working in a presidential library, but opportunities for those are rare, and I didn’t want to leave Hawaiʻi. When I was offered the chance to join the Hawaiʻi Medical Library, it was a fortuitous opportunity. It introduced me to medicine and health sciences, which has been incredibly fulfilling.”
That unexpected path has shaped her perspective on the importance of medical libraries. “Healthcare touches everyone’s lives,” Dennison said. “Being part of supporting that work is exciting. At Mānoa, I worked closely with nursing students and faculty and got to see firsthand how their knowledge and research make a difference for patients and families. It’s rewarding to be part of that impact.”
As she settles in at JABSOM, Dennison sees the library’s biggest strength as its staff. “They really care about the students and are invested in helping them succeed as physicians and researchers,” she said.
Dennison also wants students to view the library as their first stop for reliable information—especially in an age of AI.
“It’s easy to plug something into AI, but you don’t always know where the information is coming from or how it’s being processed,” she said. “By coming to the library, students can strengthen their critical thinking skills and learn to evaluate resources directly. That skill is essential for physicians, because people’s lives depend on it.”
As she gets started, Dennison’s immediate goal is to fill a vacant instruction librarian position to staff the team fully. Longer term, she’s interested in exploring how AI might improve library services while keeping pace with the needs of JABSOM’s curriculum and research.
“I’m excited and grateful to be here,” she said. “The library is here to serve faculty, staff, and students, but we need feedback to do that well. We don’t want to work in a vacuum, so please tell us what you need. Our doors, and our email inboxes, are always open.”
