Consumer Health Librarian of the Year Award
Consumer health librarians focus on the continuum of health information services that benefit patients, caregivers, and individuals interested in optimal health and health care for themselves and their families. Established in 2017, this award recognizes those who demonstrate excellence in consumer health information services, promote innovation and collaboration, and provide examples to follow for other consumer health librarians.
Criteria
The Consumer Award Jury will review nominations for eligibility and award points based on achievements, leadership, and service.
Consumer health librarian who exemplifies the best in consumer librarianship:
- Demonstrates excellent communication and search skills on consumer health-focused information resources for patrons of all ages.
- Acts as a role model to peers in consumer health librarianship and works to mentor new librarians to the field.
- Contributes to the knowledge base of consumer health librarianship by sharing best practices with peers through presentations, posters, and publications, or teaching.
- Works collaboratively with other medical librarians, administrative staff, co-workers and community leaders to provide accessible consumer health information services.
- Leads by example and is an innovator within the work environment.
- Maintains professional credentials and pursues appropriate continuing education opportunities as a lifelong learner.
Nominations
- The nominee must be a member of MLA.
- Membership may be confidentially confirmed by contacting Membership Services.
- The nominee must have worked continuously for each of the last 5 years immediately preceding the nomination, and must be working in a health sciences library at the time of the award.
- The nominee should hold a professional library or information science qualification.
- It is preferred that nominees be a member of the Consumer and Patient Health Information Caucus for a minimum of two years.
- The online nomination must be completed, and all supporting documents uploaded no later than the deadline.
- An acknowledgement of the submission will appear on the webpage once the nomination has been received.
- Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be accepted for review.
The nomination must contain at least the following elements:
- a precise description of the nominee’s achievements, leadership, and service to MLA and Consumer and Patient Health Information Caucus;
- a current curriculum vitae or resume;
- any further information which may assist the jury in the evaluation of the nomination and the selection of the recipient; and
- up to three letters of support may be included.
Recipient
- Award recipient will be notified in early March and will receive a cash award of $1,500 in June, after the annual conference.
- The recipient will be asked to share a photo and video for the virtual awards ceremony held in the spring.
- If there are no appropriate nominees, the association may elect not to present the award in a given year.
Ready to Submit a Nomination?
- The online nomination must be completed, and all supporting documents uploaded no later than December 2.
Nominator must be logged into MLANET to complete this form.