MLA : Public Home Page

I am

a Health Information Professional

a Health Provider or Administrator

Join MLA

What do you need to do well in your job...today? Become part of our dynamic community of health information professionals and gain access to targeted educational opportunities, the latest professional information, and a welcoming network of expert colleagues. Take the next step in your career and join MLA now.

Aim for Excellence

Library services and quality health information can reduce hospital costs, length of stay, changes in diagnosis and clinical decision making, and improve patient outcomes.

Find out how librarians can improve your organization's standard of care.

News & Perspectives for Health Information Professionals

Statements by MLA and MLA Communities

View all statements by MLA and MLA Communities

I am MLA

View all I am MLA stories

View all MLA News & MLAConnect

Select MLAConnect articles are public. Login for a display of all articles available to MLA members.

COVID-19 Conversation: Engaging Our Communities in the Time of COVID-19

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu November 19, 2020

Clinical and academic health libraries are facing novel challenges in engaging their patrons, stakeholders, and other members of their communities. A panel of three librarians with responsibilities for communication, marketing, and outreach will share their experiences in engaging their communities

Blog link: Featured Articles

RTI News: RTI Fellow Elizabeth Suelzer, AHIP, Awarded 2020 Librarian of the Year!

By: Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA

Thu November 19, 2020

Elizabeth Suelzer, AHIP, MCW Libraries, Medical College of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, is the recipient of the 2020 Librarian of the Year by the Wisconsin Health Science Library Association (WHSLA).

Blog link: RTI News

RTI Research Spotlight: Librarian-Led Research Identifies Barriers to Library Referrals from Clinical Care Teams and Suggests Solutions

By: Liz Kellermeyer, AHIP

Thu November 19, 2020

In a recent article published in Hypothesis, Liz Kellermeyer, AHIP, has explored the factors affecting clinical care team referrals to the medical library. The medical library is a unique resource for patients, offering librarian-mediated searches, guidance, and help.

Blog link: RTI News

I Am MLA: Beverly Murphy, AHIP, FMLA

By: Beverly Murphy, AHIP, FMLA

Thu November 19, 2020

MLA Past President Beverly Murphy, AHIP, FMLA, introduces the I Am MLA profile series and shares her profile.

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Kelsa Bartley

By: Kelsa Bartley

Thu November 19, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Kelsa Bartley

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Naomi Bishop, AHIP

By: Naomi Bishop, AHIP

Thu November 19, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Naomi Bishop, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Alexander J. Carroll, AHIP

By: Alexander J. Carroll, AHIP

Thu November 19, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Alexander J. Carroll, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Don P. Jason III

By: Don P Jason, III

Thu November 19, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Don P. Jason III

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Heather A. McEwen

By: Heather A. McEwen

Thu November 19, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Heather A. McEwen

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

RTI Research Spotlight: Librarian-Led Research Shows New Curriculum Model Increases Student Learning in Evidence-Based Medicine

By: Laura Menard

Thu November 12, 2020

If you work at an academic health sciences library like I do, I am sure you have sometimes wondered about the impact of your teaching. Do your students actually retain material when you guide them through an activity or a one-shot teaching session?

Blog link: RTI News

RTI News: Apply for RTI ’21!

By: Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA

Thu November 5, 2020

Are you a library professional who wants to take your research skills to the next level? Do you have a brilliant idea or research topic that you have wanted to pursue but do not know where to start and need help to carry it through? Apply for the 2021 MLA Research Training Institute (RTI).

Blog link: RTI News

Global Health & Health Equity: European Medical Libraries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Maurella Della Seta

Thu October 22, 2020

As president of the European Association of Health Information and Libraries (EAHIL), the most active European association in the field of medical information, I had a privileged view of how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting libraries.

Blog link: Global Health & Health Equity

Thank You, MLA ’20 Sponsors

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu October 15, 2020

MLA expresses our sincere appreciation to all of these companies for their generous support of MLA ’20.

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

I Am MLA: Charlotte Beyer, AHIP

By: Charlotte Beyer, AHIP

Thu October 8, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Charlotte Beyer, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Michelle Kraft, AHIP, FMLA

By: Michelle Kraft, AHIP, FMLA

Thu October 8, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Michelle Kraft, AHIP, FMLA

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Laura Menard

By: Laura Menard

Thu October 8, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Laura Menard

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Matthew N. Noe

By: Matthew Nicholas Noe

Thu October 8, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Matthew N. Noe

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Peace Ossom Williamson, AHIP

By: Peace Ossom Williamson, AHIP

Thu October 8, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Peace Ossom Williamson, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

Global Health & Health Equity: Resource Limited but Knowledge Rich: Hinari and Systematic Review Training in Zimbabwe

By: Lilian Hoffecker

Thu September 3, 2020

How do you conduct a systematic review with limited resources? Twenty years ago, it would have been impossible to search and access the articles that these reviews notoriously require. But with library professionals as trainers and the support of Hinari, producing systematic reviews is feasible.

Blog link: Global Health & Health Equity

RTI Research Spotlight: Research Highlights the Importance of Including Users with Disabilities When Providing Web Page Accessibility Information

By: Amelia Brunskill

Thu September 3, 2020

Curious about how other libraries were providing accessibility information, I searched the existing literature and found very few studies that focused on libraries’ accessibility information pages and none involving any consultation with users with disabilities.

Blog link: RTI News

MLA ’20 vConference New Member/First-Time Attendees Book Recommendations

By: Angela Spencer, AHIP

Thu August 27, 2020

This is a collection of favorite books and/or current reads that were mentioned in the New Members/First-Time Attendees meeting held on Monday, July 27, 2020, at the beginning of the MLA ’20 vConference.

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

I Am MLA: Tamara M. Nelson, AHIP

By: Tamara M. Nelson, AHIP

Thu August 27, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Tamara M. Nelson, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Ruby L. Nugent

By: Ruby L. Nugent

Thu August 27, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Ruby L. Nugent

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Lisa K. Traditi, AHIP

By: Lisa K. Traditi, AHIP

Thu August 27, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Lisa K. Traditi, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

Fourth Annual MLA Book Recommendations: MLA ’20 vConference

By: Angela Spencer, AHIP

Thu August 20, 2020

This list is a compilation of books recommended throughout the MLA ’20 vConference. Special thanks to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Reading Club; African American Medical Librarians Alliance Caucus; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; MLA Book Club; and Twitter recommendation

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

InSight Initiative Videos

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu August 13, 2020

MLA’s InSight Initiative is a thought-leadership initiative uniquely designed to address the common problem of disintermediation by engaging health sciences librarians and information providers in high-level, high-value dialogue on issues that matter to both communities.

Blog link: InSight Initiative

RTI Research Spotlight: Librarian-Led Research Provides Clues for How Librarians Can Improve Medical Students’ Use of Information Tools

By: Margaret A. Hoogland, AHIP

Thu August 13, 2020

In fall 2016, I submitted a poster abstract to MLA ’17. My goal was simple: I wanted to see what point-of-care (POC) products health sciences libraries offered, how libraries promoted POCs, and if they used POCs in classes.

Blog link: RTI News

Attending the MLA ’20 vConference? Watch Paper and Lightning Talks before August 10!

By: Melissa De Santis, AHIP

Fri August 7, 2020

All paper and lightning talk presentations have been prerecorded and are posted in the Online Planner. The one-hour time blocks in the virtual program are for attendees to ask questions live to paper and lightning talk authors.

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

You Should Be Here! MLA ’20 vConference and Exhibits: Live Action Week!

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu August 6, 2020

Don’t miss your chance to participate in the MLA ’20 vConference and Exhibits. MLA is looking forward to a truly memorable vConference and invites you to Live Action Week!

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

MLA ’20 vConference Featured Speakers You Don’t Want to Miss!

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu August 6, 2020

MLA is excited to announce Esther Choo, John Brownstein, and Chris Shaffer as keynote speakers at the MLA ’20 vConference and Exhibits, the full-featured experience of virtual learning and networking.

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

RTI Research Spotlight: RTI Contributed to Additional Study on Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Libraries

By: Jennifer C Westrick, AHIP

Thu August 6, 2020

Training from the MLA RTI has come in handy again! I am a fellow in the 2019 cohort, and my project is currently in the final draft stages. I know one of the goals of the RTI is to equip librarians with tools to do research on an ongoing basis, so I am sharing an additional research project.

Blog link: RTI News

Historic MLA ’20 vConference Opening Session Held July 27

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu July 30, 2020

The MLA ’20 vConference and Exhibits, a full-featured experience of virtual learning and networking, kicked off on Monday, July 27, with an opening session that was available to all, including all MLA members, registrants, and vendors.

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

RTI News: IMLS Awards Second Grant to MLA to Deepen the Research Capacity of Health Sciences Librarians

By: Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA

Thu July 30, 2020

IMLS has awarded MLA a $227,862 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant over a 3-year period to build upon, extend, and enhance the successful RTI. IMLS funding for August 2020–July 2023 will enable MLA to transition the existing RTI research curriculum and learning activities.

Blog link: RTI News

RTI News: 2019 RTI Fellows Open Forum

By: Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA

Thu July 30, 2020

Learn more about the RTI program and join the RTI fellows and faculty on Wednesday, August 5, from noon–1:30 p.m., central time, as they present their research work and discuss their perceptions and experiences of conducting research in practice. All MLA members are welcome to attend.

Blog link: RTI News

MLA ’20 Service Project: Rahab’s Sisters

By: Basia Delawska-Elliott, AHIP

Thu July 16, 2020

What makes Rahab’s Sisters unique is the concept of radical hospitality. Rahab’s Sisters’ core mission is creating community for women and gender nonconforming folks “marginalized by poverty, houselessness, sex work, violence and substance use.” Community is a need that is often overlooked.

Blog link: MLA ’20 | 2020 Vision The Future In Focus

I Am MLA: P J Grier

By: P J Grier

Thu July 16, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador P J Grier

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Adela V. Justice, AHIP

By: Adela V. Justice, AHIP

Thu July 16, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Adela V. Justice, AHIP

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

I Am MLA: Anu Moorthy

By: Anu Moorthy

Thu July 16, 2020

Read about I Am MLA Ambassador Anu Moorthy

Blog link: I Am MLA (public)

RTI Research Spotlight: Recent Review Finds Few Information Literacy Studies of Doctoral Students

By: Elisabeth Nylander

Thu July 16, 2020

Doctoral studies offer a unique phase in the development and legitimization of researchers, and it is essential to understand the distinct practices of this population if librarians are to support this process in an evidence-based manner.

Blog link: RTI News

Letter to the Editor: As Librarian Furloughs and Lay-Offs Mount, Provider Practice and Patients May Suffer

By: Marianne D. Burke, AHIP

Thu July 9, 2020

The article by Virginia Marie Trow, “Clinical Support: As Losses Mount, US Hospitals Furlough Librarians with Other Hospital Staff,” describes the impacts of COVID-19 on hospital finances and employees, and on hospital librarians. Numerous hospital librarians reported furloughs or reduced hours.

Blog link: Op Ed

Global Health & Health Equity: A Call to Action: Read, Reflect, Include, Repeat

By: Mary Shah, AHIP

Thu July 2, 2020

George Floyd’s murder on May 25 set off the latest round of Black Lives Matters demonstrations as well as discussions and statements on social media and in email discussions. You may ask, “What can I do?” The answer is plenty.

Blog link: Global Health & Health Equity

Doing Our Jobs in the Time of COVID-19: Facilities and Personnel Management While Your Library Is Closed, Open, Reopening, or Somewhere In-Between

By: MLA Headquarters

Thu July 2, 2020

In this time of COVID-19, clinical and academic health libraries face facilities and personnel management challenges. On July 14, a panel of five librarian leaders from clinical and academic libraries, will share their experiences, lessons learned, and plans.