Professionals providing quality information for improved health. spacer

Press Releases

What's New: November 2006

To top of page Winner Selected for 2007 MLA/ARL Leadership Program

In its ongoing commitment to recruit and retain health sciences information professionals from diverse backgrounds, the Medical Library Association (MLA) joins the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in sponsoring the MLA/ARL Leadership and Career Development Program (LCDP). In addition to ARL's contribution, MLA contributed $4,500 this year to support the 2007 program, which provides advancement and leadership opportunities for one minority, mid-career librarian in an academic or research library. Funding for the scholarship is provided by a grant from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region (NN/LM SCR) under NLM contract N01-LM-3515 located at the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library.

The recently redesigned program will provide participants with exposure to the strategic issues that are shaping the future of research libraries and prepare them for increasingly demanding leadership roles in academic and research libraries. The LCDP will consist of two institutes, an opening and closing event held in conjunction with national professional meetings, a career-coaching relationship with an ARL library director or staff member, and a personalized visit to an ARL member library.

Shannon Jones, Tompkins-McCaw Library, Virginia Commonwealth University-Richmond, was selected to participate in the 2007 leadership program. Jones has presented posters on careers, mentoring, and diversity in health librarianship at numerous MLA meetings. In 2005, she received the MLA Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC) Marguerite Abel Service Recognition Award and was a 2001 ALA Spectrum Initiative Scholar. Currently interim head of education services at Tompkins-McCaw Library, Jones is chair of the membership and recruitment committee of the MAC chapter and is coeditor of the MLA News "New Members" column.

About receiving the honor, Jones stated, "I am extremely excited about being selected to participate in the program and I appreciate MLA and the National Library of Medicine for their commitment to preparing the next generation of librarians for leadership roles in health science libraries. Participating in the program will provide me with information to enhance my current leadership skills in addition to offering an opportunity to interact with and learn from a diverse community of librarians from across the US."

African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander individuals are eligible to apply for the program. For more information, visit the MLANET awards page, email Jerome Offord at ARL, jerome@arl.org, or contact 202.296.2296 x114.

MLA congratulates Jones on receiving the LCDP learning opportunity and is pleased to continue its collaboration with ARL in supporting a diverse workforce in the librarianship profession.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,500 health sciences information professional members worldwide. Founded in 1898, 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 x28.

                 Thanks to our MLANET sponsors!

Thanks to Rittenhouse for their sponsorship of MLANET.

Your donations help sponsor MLA's grants, scholarships, and awards. Give today!

Order your Medspeak in Plain Language brochures today

                 Thanks to our MLANET sponsors!