Selection Criteria
A potential individual applicant is any active MLA member or active member of an association in a bilateral agreement with the MLA and also from an institution willing to sponsor their exchange. The international applicant is not an employee of the hosting institution. The applicant must be working or preparing to work in a health science library in his or her own country. The applicant must verify that he/she can provide his/her own financial support that includes, but is not limited to travel, visa, housing, and medical support. A U.S. applicant must be an MLA member from an institution willing to sponsor the exchange.
Individuals will be selected and matched with carefully selected host institutions based on the Application. The selection process timeline is described below. Prospective individuals also need to provide the following at the time of application in PDF form to internationalVIP@ics.mlanet.org
- A letter from the Dean, President, Executive Vice President or other administrator stating that the institution is willing to support the applicant’s exchange. Please include the preferred duration of exchange and preferred time of year.
- A current CV with verification of MLA membership (or proof of membership with an association in a bilateral agreement with the MLA).
Selection Process
Individual and Institution applications will be reviewed by the MLA/ICC International VIP Task Force. Approval is determined by the selection criteria evidenced in the application. Applications can be submitted at any time; however, individual and host institution applications will be considered by the Task Force on the first of January, April, July, and October. Applicants should have their materials submitted two weeks before the meeting date by which they wish to be considered. Placement announcements are made four weeks after each meeting.The Program Task Force will match selected individuals and host institutions based on their applications. A list of approved institutions will be sent to partner international library associations quarterly so that their members can express interest in visiting specific host institutions. Individual and host institutions may participate in the matching, including direct communication between individual and the host institution. The Task Force will inform the individual and the institution about their mutual match and provide both parties with guidelines.
Obligations
Financial
The international Health Information Professional is not an employee of the hosting institution. Individuals are responsible for their own financial support. This includes but is not limited to travel, visa, housing, and medical support.
There is no financial obligation for the institution to the visiting librarian, other than providing the librarian with workspace to carry out projects. Individuals are not expected to fund projects in any way.
The applicant must be working or preparing to work in a health science library in his or her own country. U.S. applicants must be an MLA member from an institution willing to sponsor the exchange.
MLA, through the International Cooperation Caucus, will provide consultation to individuals once they are accepted.
Reporting and Evaluation
Upon completion of the International VIP, the individual will complete a brief survey to evaluate the experience. The survey is being developed.