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MLA President 2004/05

Priorities

Joanne G. Marshall, AHIP, FMLA
Joanne G. Marshall, AHIP, FMLA
Theme and Priorities for 2004/05

MLA will play a key role in our positive futures by continuing to provide high-quality educational and leadership opportunities and by forming partnerships with other organizations to enrich these offerings even further. Our association can also contribute to positive change by building a platform for evidence-based practice through benchmarking and other research-oriented initiatives. Our long-term success will depend on our willingness to think creatively and to invest in our profession, our association, and ourselves.

To top of page ¡Futuro Magnífico! Celebrating Our Diversity

Our mission to provide quality information for improved health continues to be our guiding star. With that goal in mind, MLA must build and diversify its membership, so that it continues to be the association of choice for the most visible, valued, and trusted health information experts in the world.

MLA will realize its mission by:
  • offering opportunities for health information professionals from many and diverse backgrounds to build and demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and competencies;
  • advocating exciting new future roles for the profession that are grounded in the needs of health information users;
  • contributing to the advancement of health information research and evidence-based practice;
  • demonstrating the highest standards of practice and ethical conduct; and
  • developing outcome measures for MLA activities.

Given the belief that informed health care professionals and consumers are both key to achieving positive change, MLA will advocate for access to the highest quality health information for all. MLA members will be encouraged to immerse themselves in the diverse environments of health-related knowledge discovery, learning, and community engagement, so that they can maximize their contribution as information experts.

The realization of our “Futuro Magnífico” builds on the strong base created by our past leaders. We must use this base to act in the present to achieve positive outcomes in the short term and plan for the future to ensure ongoing success. Continuity is the key. As we flow into the river of the future, collaboration and partnership, both inside and outside the association, will continue to be essential.

To top of page Priorities

The priorities are meant to be explored in ways that build on the past, enable action in the present, and allow planning for the future.

  1. Embrace diversity locally and globally
    a. Encourage members from many and diverse backgrounds to enter the profession and join MLA.
    b. Participate in national and international activities related to information policy, scholarly communication, and access to electronic information resources.
    c. Increase the range of partnerships between MLA and other associations, both nationally and internationally.

  2. Advocate for the profession
    a. Speak with our collective voice as MLA members on important information policy issues such as copyright, changes in scholarly publishing, privacy, and access to health information for every citizen.
    b. Continue to improve the MLA media kit and other publicity tools for members, including tools that can be used to advocate for improved compensation for health information professionals at all levels.
    c. Continue to promote our value to health care and institutional leaders, health professionals, and consumers.

  3. Enable lifelong learning
    a. Reexamine MLA’s educational policy statement Platform for Change in light of ongoing developments, such as the promotion of centers of excellence in health information education.
    b. Promote the Academy of Health Information Professionals as a route to lifelong learning and the development of a community of practice.
    c. Continue to partner with graduate schools of library and information science in joint recruitment, research, and educational initiatives.
    d. Continue to support the work of the Task Force to Develop MLA’s Center of Research and Education (CORE).
    e. Partner with other organizations to increase the range of available options for continuing education, including videoconferences, Web conferences, and other distance education programs.

  4. Build and share our knowledgebase
    a. Encourage evidence-based practice both by MLA members and by MLA as an association. Reexamine MLA’s research policy statement Using Scientific Evidence to Improve Information Practice.
    b. Promote and expand MLA’s publications and databases as authoritative sources of information services. Promote the concept of an MLA digital library. Encourage MLA sections and chapters to develop recommended lists of health Websites for health care providers and consumers.
    c. Continue to develop MLA as an internationally oriented virtual association through MLANET and encourage members to develop and share their knowledge in using leading edge technologies.
    d. Continue to promote MLA’s research statement through the Donald A. B. Lindberg Research Fellowship and encourage members to apply for NLM research grants.

  5. Recruit and retain the best
    a. Continue the recruitment initiative to bring promising individuals from many and diverse backgrounds into the profession. Further develop outreach and mentorship to new members and step up the initiative to develop an active virtual student group.
    b. Actively recruit members to the profession who have advanced degrees in other fields for informationist roles.
    c. Encourage the participation of senior association leaders, including fellows, in MLA activities. Seek ways for these leaders to transmit the rich history, values, and traditions of the field to new members.
    d. Continue to take advantage of the Institute of Museum and Library Services initiative to develop and partner in funded projects to support library education for the 21st century.
    e. Develop an enhanced understanding of the career stages of health information professionals and determine ways to respond to changing needs.

                 Thanks to our MLANET sponsors!

Thanks to Rittenhouse for their sponsorship of MLANET.

Thanks to Nature Publishing Group for their sponsorship of MLANET.

Thanks to The Endocrine Society for their sponsorship of the MLA website!

                 Thanks to our MLANET sponsors!