Many library and information science scholars, as well as those in adjacent fields, publish research that would be useful to help public, academic, special, and school librarians do their jobs even better. But few practicing librarians have the time to find papers that would be relevant, let alone read them. LJ’s new column Research Briefs will summarize in plain language some key takeaways of recent research and point to the full paper for those who want to know more. If you are a scholar or journal editor and would like your paper to be considered for inclusion, please email Lisa Peet at lpeet@mediasourceinc.com.

Though genealogy is sometimes dismissed by academic and medical communities due to the prevalence of hobbyists, genealogical research is one of the most used resources within archives and library special collections. This research can be applied to redress inequities and to empower patrons to better understand their medical history, especially for Black Americans who may have significant gaps in their family history. Lynette Hammond Gerido, University of Michigan School of Public Health, studies the outcomes and affordances of genealogical and family health history research in “Uprooting Racial Health Disparities: Genealogy as a Community Health Library Service.”

As genealogical databases continue to grow, the demand for research tools and support from libraries has also increased. The archival documentation within genealogical and archival resources is not equal across racial lines, however. Prior to the Civil War and the census of 1870, African American citizenship was not recorded. This means that for many Black families in the United States, genealogical documentation is limited. Genealogical research offers the opportunity for Black Americans to learn more about family health history (FHH), and it presents an accessible and practical tool to present and treat inheritable diseases. Unequal representation in the genealogical record means that there are further inequities in how Black families understand and respond to their FHH.

To learn more about these discrepancies, Hammond Gerido completed a study in partnership with breast cancer advocacy groups and circulated a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were recruited through advertising on breast cancer advocacy group listservs, which led to 81 completed questionnaires from women or gender non-conforming adults, 60 percent of whom self-identified as Black. From the study results, Hammond Gerido learned that participants having FHH of breast cancer—nearly one-third (32 percent) of the respondents—appear to have greater awareness of clinical genetic testing, while those without FHH have a greater awareness of genetic genealogy services. This study illuminates the discrepancy between the clinical and social realities related to genealogical testing.

Library services can serve as important interventions to address these discrepancies for Black Americans. Through greater library and information science education, future librarians can improve their knowledge of FHH tools so that they can better develop community health outreach programs. Diverse communities—already suffering from disproportionate health risks—can reduce racial disparities through knowledge about their inherited risks.

Through the efforts to uncover family histories and support community genealogical research, libraries play a central role in helping Black Americans repair broken family trees. Hammond Gerido concludes the article with a call to action for libraries: “As individuals gain greater access to archives and contribute to history, libraries must become progressively more inclusive by providing and promoting access to less-documented narratives. Through supporting everyday acts of information seeking and provision among family historians we can decrease health inequities and improve access to genetic testing services.” For more information on this research and further suggestions for how librarians can help patrons overcome racialized health disparities, read “Uprooting Racial Health Disparities: Genealogy as a Community Health Library Service.”