Medical Library Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Formation | 1898 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Membership | 3,600 individual members and 1,100 institutions |
| Website | Medical Library Association |
The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,000 health sciences information professional members and partners worldwide.
Its mission states, "The Medical Library Association is organized exclusively for scientific and educational purposes, and is dedicated to the support of health sciences research, education, and patient care. MLA fosters excellence in the professional achievement and leadership of health sciences library and information professionals to enhance the quality of health care, education, and research."[1]
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[edit] History
Founded on May 2, 1898, by four librarians and four physicians, the Association of Medical Librarians, as it was known until 1907, was founded “to encourage the improvement and increase of public medical libraries.”[citation needed] MLA is the second oldest special library association in the United States. Two of the eight founding members were actually Canadians, William Osler and Margaret Ridley Charlton.
The now-defunct MLA Exchange was one of the founders’ earliest and most important projects, helping build medical libraries in the United States and many other countries by exchanging duplicate publications. The organization has subsequently developed a variety of programs to serve the needs of health information specialists.
[edit] Membership
MLA's members are more than 1,100 institutions and 3,600 individuals in the health sciences information field worldwide, though it primarily represents health sciences libraries and librarians in the United States and Canada.
Membership is structured to accommodate varying needs and professional status of a diverse field of practitioners. Categories include Regular Membership, Institutional Membership, International Membership, Affiliate Membership and Student Membership
Academy of Health Information Professionals
The Academy of Health Information Professionals is MLA's peer-reviewed professional development and career recognition program. The Academy recognizes the personal investment of time and effort required for exemplary professional performance and for contributions to the association and to the profession.
[edit] Governing structure
MLA is governed by a board of directors. The President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, seven Directors elected by the membership at large, and Chairs of the Chapter and Section Councils shall serve as Voting Members of the Board of Directors. The President shall serve as Chair of the Board of Directors and shall not vote except to make or to break a tie. The Executive Director shall serve as a Nonvoting Member of the Board of Directors.
Chapters
Fourteen geographic groups within the United States are currently affiliated with MLA. These Chapters provide a vital link to the programs and services of the Association; they are open to both MLA members and non-members.
Sections
Twenty-three special interest Sections represent MLA’s members’ varied areas of specialization or interest. These include medical informatics, medical school libraries and consumer and patient education. Sections meet at the annual meeting of MLA and share information during the year through networking and through Section newsletters.
[edit] Activities
Career Development
MLA offers career services for health sciences information professionals, students attending library school programs, and those interested in learning more about a career as a medical librarian. MLA offers programs to improve the knowledge and skills of its own members, and provide continuing education and credentialing to its members.
Cunningham Fellowship
The Cunningham Fellowship is an award for health sciences librarians from countries outside the United States and Canada. The award provides for attendance at the MLA Annual Meeting and observation and supervised work in one or more medical libraries in the United States and Canada.
Librarians without Borders
MLA believes that key elements in improved health for all peoples are the ability of each nation to strengthen and build health sciences information capacity through qualified health sciences librarians, implementation of supporting technological infrastructure, and access to quality information. MLA supports capacity building programs at the association, section, chapter, and individual member level. MLA believes that building capacity will be most effective and long-lasting when partnerships are created with groups sharing similar goals, particularly partnerships with international agencies where shared goals intersect with available expertise and infrastructure.
Publications
Journal of the Medical Library Association MLA's quarterly, peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
MLA-FOCUS A bimonthly electronic newsletter for MLA members.
MLA News A monthly newsletter for members and subscribers that covers MLA products and services, news about the profession, and articles that impart practical, on-the-job wisdom.
Books Expert information that provides insights into best practices.
BibKits Selective, annotated bibliographies of discrete subject areas in the health sciences literature.
DocKits Collections of representative, unedited library documents from a variety of institutions that illustrate the range of approaches to library management.
[edit] Conferences and Meetings
Attendees at MLA’s annual meeting present and discuss scholarly papers, applied research, and issues in health sciences information management. Professionals with specific interests in related field such as medical informatics come together to address topics of timely importance. Educational sessions are complemented by an exhibit featuring more than 100 vendors of appropriate products and services.
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
Connor J. (2000). Guardians of medical knowledge : the genesis of the Medical Library Association Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-8108-3470-7
[edit] External links
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