Draft Strategic Plan 2002 

MLA's Future: Issues, Challenges, and Choices

Draft Plan

MLA's Vision Statement
Quality information for improved health

MLA's Core Values
MLA is committed to improving the knowledge and skills of health information professionals, broadening health information research, improving the public's understanding of health information and its value, promoting access to the world's health sciences information, and working collaboratively with other groups to ensure that the best health information is available to all. MLA upholds and promotes the Code of Ethics for Health Sciences Librarians.

MLA's Envisioned Future (Overarching Goal)
To be the association of the most visible, trusted, and respected health information experts with proven positive influence on the quality of health in the world.

Description of MLA's Future
MLA is the leader in providing health information professionals with lifelong learning opportunities, actively collaborating with other education providers. The health care community and the public understand the value of quality health information to society through MLA's advocacy and research efforts. As a result, health sciences librarians are well compensated and sought after as trusted experts in the development and assessment of quality health information and knowledge management. Through MLA, health sciences librarians help to achieve excellence in health professional education and to improve the safety and efficacy of biomedical research and patient care. MLA and its members actively serve every professional and student working in health care and/or provide health information to the public through a global "community of practice" that shares expertise and resources.

Major Challenges to Achieving this Future

• recruiting and retaining the best, brightest, diverse individuals to become health information professionals, recognizing changing roles will affect knowledge and skills;
• providing the full range of health information education needed to attract and sustain a top quality workforce wherever they are;
• promoting the value of health information professionals to society, recognizing the complexity of changing roles and public perception of our value;
• serving the health information needs of the general public and of the growing range of those who meet their needs;
• expanding the professional research knowledgebase, linking the information services provided by health information professionals to improved health care and advances in biomedical research;
• improving access to quality health information and library services worldwide; and
• demonstrating technology leadership that helps members advance.

The Board Recommended Strategic Choices to Address these Challenges:

1. MLA will aggressively promote health sciences librarianship and other health information careers to target audiences who have the greatest chance of success in the profession, including members of related health and information professions, high school and college students, and others. MLA should actively support exploration of new health information professional roles that support our vision.
   
   
2. MLA's Center of Research and Education (CORE) will enable MLA to expand its target education audiences to include students, practitioners, and the public; expand its health information content and delivery methods to meet the needs of expanded target audiences wherever they are; offer certification and credentialing programs that recognize special expertise; and support an expanded research knowledgebase in health information and library science.
   
   
3. MLA will expand its advocacy and promotion role to become the leading voice of health information experts in our society. MLA will have a "first response" strategy in cases of urgent national or international health concerns.
   
   
4. MLA will promote the ability of its members and others to serve the health information needs of the general public.
   
   
5. MLA will promote and support health information research and capture other knowledge about health sciences libraries and librarians that members can use. MLA will ensure permanent access to this knowledge.
   
   
6. MLA will be a leading advocate for unfettered and permanent access to quality health information in all formats.
   
   
7. MLA will work with partner organizations to build a community of practice supporting access to quality information to improve health worldwide.
   
   
8. MLA will build upon core "virtual association" services to provide technology leadership in accomplishing these strategic choices.
   
   
9. MLA will actively collaborate with other health information professional associations, looking for partnerships that build on shared values and goals.

Visit the Web-based comment transcript (text file, 14KB), or send your comments, questions, or suggestions to Carla Funk, funk@mlahq.org; fax, 312.419.8950.