MLA President 2001–2002

Carol G. Jenkins, AHIP
2001/2002 MLA Priorities

Investing in Our Future
We are at the threshold of a new century in which dramatic, continuous change is reshaping our profession and society. MLA's opportunity, indeed its necessity, is to reaffirm the value of health information professionals to society while building capacity for increasing our impact.

This theme, Investing in Our Future, builds upon those of recent MLA boards and presidents: Making a Difference (Jacque Doyle, 1998); Reaffirming Our Commitment (Frieda Weise, 1999); Passion for the Profession (Michael Homan, 2000). This year, President Michael Homan has strived to reaffirm our value and build our future capacity by articulating MLA's vision and moving MLA forward as a virtual association.

The Board of Directors has approved the following goals presented by incoming President Carol Jenkins for 2001. These goals focus on strengthening MLA's leadership roles to prepare health information professionals for effective practice in society, and to advocate our value; and on improving MLA's capacity to be seen as a technology leader. These goals create investment opportunities in our future both individually and as an association.

Expand MLA's Leadership Role in Professional Development, Recognition and Research

• Establish MLA as the Center of Excellence in health information education.
  
  
• Demonstrate the value of membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals to health sciences librarians and their employers.
  
  
• Promote the role of health sciences librarians as health information consultants to education and industry.
  
  
• Increase support for beneficial research and development in areas of health information including emerging roles for health information professionals.

Expand MLA's Leadership Role as Advocate for the Value of Health Information Professionals to Society

• Through an expanded recruitment initiative, have a positive impact on recruitment, retention, and mentoring of promising and diverse individuals into the profession.
  
  
• Continue to promote improved compensation for health information professionals at all levels.
  
  
• Promote and expand MLA's publications and databases as authoritative sources of information about health sciences libraries and information services and increase the availability of this information electronically.
  
  
• Continue to positively influence national information policy, legislation and funding in areas related to health and scholarly communication.
  
  
• Continue to advise and collaborate with NLM, ALA, AAMC, JCAHO, and others on national initiatives in biomedical and health information policy, research, and development.
  
  
• Encourage the use of association leaders as spokespersons for the profession.

Establish MLA's Role as a Technology Leader

• Aggressively continue MLA's conversion to a virtual association, using new technologies to benefit members and the profession at large.

You may also download a Microsoft Word document (MS Word, 29KB) with these priorities.