Becoming an internationalist: Reflections on the international activities of Estelle Brodman

Abstract

Objective: The international consulting and publishing activities of Estelle Brodman, PhD, are placed in the context of Medical Library Association (MLA) international activities. Description: Through multiple consulting engagements in Asia, Dr. Brodman developed an extensive knowledge of the practice and history of health sciences librarianship in countries she visited. International activities in the form of publications, consulting visits, and international meetings occurred sporadically in a career that spanned over forty years and are examined in the context of the international activities of MLA. Method: Selected publications and Dr. Brodman's oral history transcript were reviewed. Results/Conclusion: Dr. Brodman was a keen observer of the international practice of health sciences librarianship and used her considerable skills in writing and historical research to capture the essence of the cultures she visited. Reports and journal articles form a solid record of scholarship and were complementary to MLA international activities occurring during her career. She approached her assignments with empathy, candor, and respect for the cultures she visited.