Medical Library Association | Public Policy : Press Releases

Press Releases

What's New: May 2006

Library Groups Applaud Legislation that Improves Public Access to Federal Scientific Research

MLA Selects Karen Brewer, AHIP, as MLA Fellow

Janet S. Fisher, AHIP, to Become MLA Fellow

JMLA Editor Nunzia Bettinsoli Guise to be Inducted as an MLA Fellow

MLA Selects David Morse, AHIP, to Become MLA Fellow

Mary L. Ryan, AHIP, to be Inducted as an MLA Fellow

Library Groups Applaud Legislation that Improves Public Access to Federal Scientific Research

A coalition of national library associations praised the introduction of the "Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006." The legislation, introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) would require federal agencies with extramural research portfolios over $100 million to make the electronic versions of peer-reviewed articles publicly available via the Internet within 6 months of publication.

In her May 3, 2006, letter to Senators Cornyn and Lieberman, MLA President M.J. Tooey, AHIP, expressed support for the legislation, especially the provisions that call for both early access and long-term preservation of scientific manuscripts. Tooey also encouraged Congress to work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the NIH Public Access Working Group as the legislation moves forward.

"Far too often the results of research that the U.S. government funds-with billions of taxpayer dollars each year-are not broadly available to researchers, scientists, physicians and members of the public. This legislation will greatly expand public access while, at the same time, ensure that these articles generated with federal support are available to future generations," said Prudence S. Adler, a spokesperson for the coalition.

Enhanced public access to publicly funded research spurs innovation and competition by accelerating research, sharing knowledge, improving treatment of diseases, and supporting the educational enterprise.

The coalition is made up of the Medical Library Association, American Association of Law Libraries, the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Special Libraries Association. These associations collectively represent more than 139,000 libraries in the United States employing 350,000 librarians and library workers. The mission of libraries is to foster global access to information for creative, research, and educational uses.

The Medical Library Association (MLA), a nonprofit, educational organization, is a leading advocate for health sciences information professionals with more than 4,700 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) is a nonprofit educational organization with over 5,000 members nationwide. AALL's mission is to promote and enhance the value of law libraries to the legal and public communities, to foster the profession of law librarianship, and to provide leadership in the field of legal information and information policy. Contact: Mary Alice Baish (202.662.9200)

The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit educational organization of over 65,000 librarians, library trustees, and other friends of libraries dedicated to improving library services and promoting the public interest in a free and open information society. Contact: Miriam Nisbet (202.628.8410)

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 123 research libraries in North America. ARL's members include university libraries, public libraries, government and national libraries. Its mission is to shape and influence forces affecting the future of research libraries in the process of scholarly communication. ARL programs and services promote equitable access to and effective uses of recorded knowledge in support of teaching, research, scholarship and community service. Contact: Prudence S. Adler (202-296-2296)

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is a division of the American Library Association (ALA), representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning, and research environments. Contact: Mary Ellen Davis (800.545.2433 x3248)

The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 12,000 members in 83 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy and networking initiatives. Contact: Doug Newcomb (703.647.4923)

MLA Selects Karen Brewer, AHIP, FMLA, as MLA Fellow

The Medical Library Association (MLA) chooses its Fellows annually based on the significant contributions they have made to the health sciences information profession and for their commitment to the advancement of MLA's goals. Karen Brewer, AHIP, FMLA, is one of the five individuals to be inducted as an MLA Fellow at the Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on May 22, 2006, during MLA '06, in Phoenix, AZ.

A leader in the health sciences information field, Brewer, director and curator, Ehrman Medical Library, New York University School of Medicine, New York, is a former president of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) and served on the MLA/AAHSL Joint Legislative Task Force (1994-1996). From 1980-1987, Brewer served on the MLA/AAHSL task force on the Development of Standards and Guidelines. Her work on the task force led to a complete reworking of the guidelines and helped produce the publication, Challenge to Action: Planning and Evaluation Guidelines for Academic Health Sciences Libraries, a standard still used today.

A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals, Brewer was elected to the MLA Board of Directors (1991-1994) and served as chair of MLA's Awards Committee (1990). She has also been active in several MLA sections including Research, Medical School Libraries, and Leadership and Management, for which she served as chair (2001).

MLA, a nonprofit, educational organization, comprises health sciences information professionals with more than 4,500 members worldwide. Through its programs and services, MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

For more information, please contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 .

Janet S. Fisher, AHIP, FMLA, to Become MLA Fellow

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce that Janet S. Fisher, AHIP, FMLA, has been chosen to receive Fellow status. Fisher was selected for her dedication and contributions to the association and to the health sciences librarianship profession. She will be inducted as an MLA Fellow at the Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on May 22, 2006, during MLA '06 in Phoenix, AZ.

Retired from her position as library director for development and outreach, Quillen College of Medicine Library, East Tennessee State University-Johnson City, Fisher has had a substantial impact on the association, particularly with its global initiatives. She was the first chair of MLA's International Cooperation Section (formerly, International Cooperation Committee) and helped to guide the transition from committee to an MLA section. She has served as mentor to many medical librarians in both the United States and abroad. From 1989 to 1993, she edited the " International News Column" in the MLA News. In addition, Fisher worked on a pilot project and budget while serving on the International Cooperation Section's Sister Library Committee (1999-2003).

A Distinguished member of the Academy of the Health Information Profession (AHIP), Fisher served as Section Council chair (1994-1996) while on the MLA Board of Directors. She was also active in her region, serving as chair of the Southern Chapter of MLA (2002) and as president of the Tennessee Library Association (1983-1984).

For more information, please contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 .

JMLA Editor Nunzia Bettinsoli Guise, AHIP, FMLA, to be Inducted as an MLA Fellow

Each year, the Medical Library Association (MLA) bestows the honor of Fellow status on members who have made important contributions to the association and to the health sciences information profession. MLA is pleased to announce that editor of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA), Nunzia Bettinsoli Guise, AHIP, will be among those inducted as an MLA Fellow on May 22, 2006, at the Awards Luncheon and Ceremony during MLA '06 in Phoenix, AZ.

Guise, director of the Annette and Irwin Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, is a visionary who has gained national and international recognition for her work in the field of informatics and the health sciences information profession. She holds both a medical degree and master's degree in library science. Through her innovative approach to library management, which includes increasing staff outreach and technology services while maintaining essential library services, she has helped to transform EBL and has raised the bar for library services. In addition to her duties as EBL director and JMLA editor, Guise, who is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics, also lends her expertise as director of the Meharry Medical College Library management team, working to revitalize the library's facilities and services.

A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), Guise has also served the association on the MLA Task Force to Review the Books Publishing Program (2000-2001) and chaired MLA's Medical Informatics Section (2003-2004). In 2004, she and a team from the EBL staff were selected to develop a comprehensive report for MLA on the information specialist in context (ISIC). The final report was delivered in 2006.

A principal investigator on numerous grants and research contracts, Guise has authored or participated in the development of more than 100 papers and presentations.

For more information, please contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 .

MLA Selects David Morse, AHIP, FMLA, to Become MLA Fellow

David Morse, AHIP, FMLA, emeritus, Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California-Los Angeles, will join four colleagues in receiving the honor of becoming a Fellow of the Medical Library Association (MLA). Morse will be inducted in May at MLA '06 in Phoenix, AZ. MLA Fellows are selected among current members of the association who have made significant contributions to the advancement of MLA's purposes and to the health sciences information profession.

Morse has had an extensive impact in the area of biomedical sciences collection development. By helping to develop its statement of purpose, he played a major role in the establishment of the MLA Collection Development Section, for which he was chair from 1990-1991. He is founding editor of one of the earliest online newsletters, Biomedical Libraries Acquisitions, which was recognized by MLA's Collection Development Section, and officially sanctioned as a section publication. Morse also coauthored an MLA DocKit, Collection Development Policies in Biomedical Libraries (1992) and served as editor of Acquisitions in Biomedical Libraries, the fifth volume in MLA Current Practice in Health Sciences Librarianship series. In 1995, he was recognized for his contributions to collection development when he received the prestigious MLA Louise Darling Medal for Distinguished Achievement in Collection Development in the Health Sciences.

Morse has served the association in numerous positions including as chair of the Pharmacy and Drug Information Section (1980-1982) and of the Technical Services Section (1996-1997).

For more information, please contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 .

Mary L. Ryan, AHIP, FMLA, to be Inducted as MLA Fellow

Because of her commitment to the association and her contributions to the health sciences information profession, the Medical Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce that Mary L. Ryan, AHIP, FMLA, has been selected as an MLA Fellow. Ryan, director, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Library-Little Rock, will be inducted on May 22, 2006, at the Awards Ceremony and Luncheon during MLA '06 in Phoenix, AZ.

Throughout her impressive career, Ryan has served on more than 120 committees and task forces including the MLA Board of Directors (1990-1993) for which she served as Section Council chair. She has also served as an executive director for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) South Central Regional Medical Library, where she focused on serving the needs of health professionals who did not have access to a medical library in their area. In addition, she has given numerous posters and presentations on providing health information to consumers and has been involved with building ARhealthLINK, a consumer Website for the state of Arkansas.

A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP), Ryan has been bestowed with several honors including the 1978 MLA Murray Gottlieb Prize, the 1996 MLA South Central Chapter Distinguished Service Award, and the 1998 National Library of Medicine Medical Informatics Fellowship. In 2004, she earned her master's in public health with honors from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

For more information, please contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 .