Sharna Polard, manager

The heart of a great library is not just the books and resources it holds, but also the people who make knowledge accessible, inclusive and empowering. Manager Sharna Polard has dedicated her career to ensuring that library services at Covenant Health is more than just a place for information. She made it a space where every person feels valued, respected and supported in their pursuit of knowledge.

Sharna leads with a deep commitment to understanding the diverse needs of Covenant staff, regularly designing and analyzing organization-wide surveys to improve library services. Her work ensures healthcare professionals have timely access to evidence-based information that directly impacts patient care, policy development and innovation. By listening and adapting based on user feedback, she has made the library an essential resource for staff and physicians across the province.

Beyond her role in research and education, Sharna actively fosters inclusivity. She advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, curates resources about Indigenous, black, LGBTQ2S+ and other marginalized communities, and champions projects that decolonize information in healthcare education. Her leadership in implementing the Statement on Harmful Language in Records and Descriptions within the NEOS library consortium has been a pivotal step in making healthcare resources more accessible and respectful.

Sharna goes above and beyond when supporting the entire Covenant organization and collaborating with our greater library community and partnerships. She knows providing open and trusted, evidence-based information leads to better decision-making, and ultimately, to quality, compassionate healthcare not just for our Covenant organization, but for all Albertans.