Board of Directors Candidate
Video
Current Position:
- Librarian/Training Development Manager, Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Training Office, Spencer S. Eccles Library, University of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah, 2021 – present.
Previous Positions (Last 10 Years):
- Librarian/Training Development Specialist: NNLM Training Office, Spencer S. Eccles Library, University of Utah. Salt Lake City, UT, 2020 – 2021.
- Associate Librarian/Training Development Specialist: NNLM Training Office, Spencer S. Eccles Library, University of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah, 2016 – 2020.
- Research Support & Education Librarian III: Rudolph Matas Library of the Health Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2012 – 2016.
MLA Official Activities (Last 10 Years)
National:
• Medical Library Association, Member 2002 – present;
• Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL)/MLA Educational Research/Assessment Task Force, Member 2023 – 2025;
• Abstract Reviewer 2024;
• NEW Health Sciences Librarian Curriculums Task Force, Member 2023 – 2025
• Abstract Reviewer 2023;
• Education: Information Services Curriculum Committee, Member 2022 – 2023;
• Grants and Scholarships Committee, Member 2020 – 2023;
• National Nominating Committee, Member 2021 – 2022
• Abstract Reviewer, 2022;
• Colleague Connection, mentor 2017 – 2023;
• MLA Student Scholarship Jury, Chair 2019;
• MLA ’18 National Programming Committee, member 2016 – 2018;
• Continuing Education Committee, member 2012 – 2015;
• Scholarship Jury, member 2018; Janet Doe Award Jury, member 2015-2016; Chapter Project of the Year Jury, member 2014-2015; Medical Informatics Section Career Development Grant Jury, member 2011-2012.
Caucus:
- Technology in Education/Educational Media and Technology Section: Member 2010 – present, Chair (EMTS), 2013 – 2016;
- History of the Health Sciences: Member, 2010 – present;
- Medical Informatics: Member 2008 – 2014, Treasurer/Secretary 2009-2011;
- Nursing and Allied Health Resources: Member 2005 – 2012.
Chapter:
- South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association: Member 2002 – present: DEI Task Force, Member 2023-2024; SCC/MLA Annual Writing Retreat, Facilitator 2023; SCC Credentialing Committee, Member 2020-2022; Program Committee, 2020 Annual Meeting, Member; Finance Committee, Member-at-Large 2017 – 2018; President 2014 – 2017; Survey Monkey Account Liaison (Special appointment), 2010 – 2015; Fundraising 2013-2015.
Professional Activities (Last 10 Years)
- Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM): Training Development, Manager 2025.
- Medical Reference Services Quarterly: Editor-in-Chief, 2025
- Journal of Hospital Librarianship, “PubMed Features to Save Your Time” Author 2023.
- Tulane University, Matas Medical Library, Research Support & Education Librarian III, 2012-2016.
Professional Honors (Last 10 Years)
- CelebrateU – Creative Works, J Willard Marriott Library and Vice President for Research, University of Utah. 2019.
- MLA Virginia L. and William K. Beatty Volunteer Service Award, 2018.
- MLA Hospital Libraries Section Professional Recognition Award for Publication, “Literature Surveillance Tools: The Hospital Library Perspective” 2018.
Candidate Questions from the Nominating Committee (500 word limit combined)
Tell us a bit about your skills, qualifications, and why you are interested in serving on the MLA Board.
Molly Knapp, MA, AHIP, is a Training Development Manager for the Network of the National Library of Medicine Training Office (NTO). With over 22 years of experience in academic health sciences libraries, including 9 with NNLM, her current roles include developing and leading national level training projects and initiatives for the NNLM. You may know Molly from popular NNLM training series such as “How PubMed Works: Introduction” and “Bioinformatics and Biology Essentials for Librarians.” A Distinguished Member of the Medical Library Association’s Academy of Health Information Professionals, she has been a librarian since 2002, and joined the NNLM Training Office in 2016. Molly also serves as Editor in Chief of Medical Reference Services Quarterly.
What do you think the board of directors should focus on in the coming year?
Financial planning and retirement readiness, the publication pipeline of doing the work to sharing the work, continued efforts with Be Well MLA, growing MLA’s Professional Practice Library resources through collaboration with Council and Community Chairs.
How do we show people the value of volunteering and participating in MLA?
This is a very big question. How do we foster community in the face of so many rapid changes in our lives? MLA needs to provide more concrete value for MLA members. MLA could explore implementing membership discounts for those who serve leadership positions in caucuses, councils, committees, juries and editorial boards.
What would you as a board member do to help build community within our association and create an environment where members feel a sense of belonging?
I would do as I do in my other frames of life. Shut up, listen, validate other’s experiences, connect, respond. No fixing.
What would you do to improve communications between MLA Leadership and MLA members?
As a Board member, I would welcome open correspondence with MLA members and future MLA members. I would champion clearer directions on the use of the MLA improved website, one way would be through a webinar or microlearning videos that demonstrate how to use various aspects the new website. I would encourage more free educational offerings and advocate for recurring discussions with MLA members and MLA leadership through open webinars, face to face conversations at regional conferences.