Annual Report 1999/2000 

Continuing Education Committee

The MLA Continuing Education Committee (CEC) met at the Annual Meeting on May 19-20, 1999, and held a midwinter meeting in Baltimore, MD, on January 22-23, 2000. The CEC objectives and achievements are directly related to Goal I (Professional Development) of the MLA Strategic Plan.

Activities:

1. Program coordination for the 2000, 2001, and 2002 annual meetings
   Katy Nesbit, with Kathleen Gaydos-Combs at headquarters, completed program coordination for the 2000 Annual Meeting. Julie Garrison was appointed liaison to the 2001 National Program Committee; the liaison to the 2002 meeting will be named in 2000. Development of CE and symposia suggestions for the 2001 Annual Meeting is underway. A call for ideas from the MLA membership was issued in the Fall. A planning session was held at the CEC Midwinter Meeting to prepare the preliminary roster.
2. Encourage the development of Web-based CE courses
   Web-based courses are being encouraged as a source of CE with the benefits of lower costs, no travel, and alternative learning styles. A task force, chaired by Julia Kochi and Julie Garrison, is designing a questionnaire to assess the MLA membership’s interest in developing or taking Web-based courses and types of support needed. Members of the Task Force are in the process of contacting potential developers; several have been identified. Kochi and Garrison, along with Connie Schardt, developed and offered "EBM and the Medical Librarian" as a Web-based course. MLA handled registration for the course as a pilot test of the process.
3. CE Facilitation of self-identified and alternative
   Several areas are being explored by the CEC as additional alternative CE opportunities. One is a proposal for awarding MLA CE or Academy credit for selected professional readings with accompanying self-assessment tools. A task force on Self-Identified CE was appointed at the midwinter meeting.
   Another task force is looking at a suggestion to offer "accreditation" in Consumer Health to be earned with a suite of consumer health courses taught by medical librarians. The courses could be marketed to public librarians, hospital-based consumer health library staff, and others seeking expertise in this area. Ways in which MLA might partner with existing MLA CE instructors, the MLA Consumer Health Section, the National Library of Medicine, and the NN/LM are being investigated.
4. Continue Distance Learning Program Initiative
   The EBHC Centennial Distance Learning program enjoyed record MLA membership participation. The CEC is planning another year-long distance learning program on electronic publishing to begin with the electronic publishing symposium at the 2000 annual meeting. Other possible activities are a videoconference, journal clubs, and a suite of courses.
5. Develop new materials for MLA Career Program
   Carla Funk has asked the CEC to participate in updating and expanding the Career Program. CEC volunteers will assist in the development of two career brochures, one aimed at the school-age audience and the other at the college/professional audience. The CEC will also provide input for the "Center for Excellence" on MLANET.
6. Continue oversight of development and enhancement of MLANET Educational Clearinghouse and other CE related information on MLANET
   The CEC has worked with headquarters to develop these pages and continues to provide input. Linda Azen Martin was appointed CEC liaison to the MLANET Board.
7. Communication between the CEC an MLA Chapters and Sections
   The Chapter Council CEC liaison, Marsha Kmec, continues to work on the uniform Needs Assessment. Alex Dimitroff, Section Council liaison, is working on defining the role and duties of Section CE chairs.

MOTION
This report is informational and requires no action by the Board of Directors.

Jo Dorsch, Chair

Continuing Education Committee
Julie Garrison, 2001 NPC Liaison
Carole Gilbert
Julia Kochi, Chair Designate
Linda Azen Martin
Kathryn Nesbit, 2000 NPC Liaison
Priscilla Stephenson
Mary VanAntwerp
Vislava Tylman
Marsha Kmec, Chapter Council Liaison
Alexandra Dimitroff, Section Council Liaison
Kathleen Gaydos Combs, MLA Headquarters, Staff Liaison
Bernie Todd-Smith, MLA Board of Directors Liaison
Jo Dorsch, Chair