Vision, Values, Mission, and Planning

Goal: Building a Better Future

Created December 2020 – expected completion by May 2024.

Goal: Understand our 125-year past to build a better future inclusive of all communities by 

• Honoring 125 years of history with publications, events and initiatives that highlight MLA milestones, deepen our understanding of the experience of diverse communities over the course of MLA history, and ensures that all voices are represented within the historical narrative,
• Envisioning the future (25 years) of the profession with community-driven activities and ideation that reflects the richness of MLA communities,
• Creating an online repository of MLA historical intellectual property and fundraising for the initiative,

in order to

• Celebrate MLA’s 125th anniversary
• Further the knowledge and appreciation of MLA achievements and contributions that support the quality of healthcare, education, and research throughout the world
• Build upon MLA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional practice, leadership of health sciences libraries, and information professionals, now and in the future,
• Enhance member access to the association’s rich intellectual property holdings, and
• Position MLA as the global leader in association management services for health information professionals by 2048.

Goal: Education (Part 2)

Created November 2020 – expected completion by May 2024 – see Education (Part 1) strategic goal below for Part 1..

Goal: Strengthen MLA’s educational curriculum by:

• Expanding the number of offerings that provide a high-quality learner-centric user experience, build on social learning, and leverage personalization
• Ensuring diversity is a thread that is reflected throughout, in areas such as the pool of instructors, content and perspectives
• Ensuring inclusion and accessibility to MLA offerings
• Growing the audience beyond MLA members

in order to:

• Position MLA as the go-to education resource for health information professionals
• Foster excellence in the professional practice and leadership of health sciences library and information professionals
• Grow revenue outside of membership and annual meeting

Goal: Reinvent the MLA Meeting Experience (Part 2)

Created November 2020 – completed May 2023 – see “Annual Meeting Innovation” strategic goal below for Part 1.

Goal: Rethink and transform the MLA meetings experiences, by:

• developing new ways of combining virtual and in-person models (“hybrid”) for the MLA annual conference and other events,
• integrating technology and instructional design that engages the attendee,
• developing new business models for attendees (members and non-members) and vendors,
• collaborating with MLA Chapters and other local stakeholders, and
• engaging with members and non-members throughout the year

in order to:

• address the lasting economic and societal impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,
• address the affordability concerns expressed by MLA members,
• reduce the synchronous time commitment to attend the annual conference,
• enhance attendee and vendor experience, in line with their expectations and association best practices,
• attract new attendees and vendors who currently don’t view MLA’s Annual Conference and meetings as the place to network or gain education,
• attract a diverse community of engaged participants that reflects the diversity of the profession and those we serve, and
• ensure that MLA meetings remain a strong financial performer, able to fund other essential MLA initiatives.

Goal: Communities (Part 2)

Created November 2020 – expected completion by May 2023 – see Communities (Sections and SIGs) strategic goal below for Part 1)

Goal: Strengthen MLA’s communities by

• building on the diversity and inclusion of communities
• encouraging community-driven high-quality and relevant MLA content,
• improving the collaboration models and the technology that supports them,
• personalizing the user experience around the user’s interests,
• introducing new association business models in addition to traditional membership, and
• attracting new communities into MLA’s environment

in order to:

• increase the relevance, effectiveness and value of MLA,
• ensure that all health information professionals at all career stages can find a professional home within MLA,
• empower MLA members at the grassroots level,
• increase member engagement,
• improve the quality of MLA programs,
• attract more members, and
• reach audiences beyond members

Goal: Annual Meeting Innovation

Created May 2018 – completed May 2020 – see “Reinvent the MLA Meeting Experience (Part 2)” strategic goal above for next step.

Goal: Evaluate and improve the MLA Annual Meeting, by:

• clarifying meeting objectives in areas such as education, contributed content, association life, networking, and audiences;
• assessing expectations and best association management practices, including instructional design, technology, and destination;
• aligning the meeting with MLA’s initiatives in education, communities, diversity and inclusion, credentialing, scholarships, integrated content and communities;
• enhancing operational excellence and integration, including meeting contractors, information systems, and marketing;

in order to:

• enhance attendee and vendor experience, in line with their expectations and association best practices;
• attract new attendees and vendors who currently don’t view MLA’s Annual Meeting as the place to network or gain education;
• attract a diverse community of members that reflects the diversity of the profession and those we serve;
• improve the effectiveness of MLA marketing communication, and community marketing;
• ensure that the meeting remains a strong financial performer, able to fund other essential MLA initiatives.

Goal: Diversity and Inclusion

Created May 2017 – completed May 2020 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion objectives included as strategies for all new strategic goals, going forward.

Goal: Evaluate and improve MLA practices as they relate to diversity and inclusion within MLA in areas such as:

• MLA defining documents, including vision, mission, values, and code of ethics statements;
• MLA publications, including the Journal of the Medical Library Association and MLA News;
• MLA programs, including the annual meeting, education, and credentialing;
• formulating position statements, including scope of issues and processes;
• engaging members in a constructive discourse on sensitive issues;
• encouraging a diverse audience to participate in MLA leadership

in order to:

• build activities and programs that create and sustain diverse, inclusive, and welcoming cultures and practices;
• ensure that members, volunteers, and staff have a high-level of awareness of issues related to diversity and inclusion;
• ensure that what we do as an organization, and how we do it, reflects the essential values of diversity and inclusion;
• attract a diverse community of members that reflects the diversity of the profession and those we serve;
• apply the best practices of professional associations with regard to diversity and inclusion.

Goal: Communities (Sections and SIGs)

Created May 2016 – completed May 2020 – see “Communities (part 2)” strategic goal above for next step.

Goal: Strengthen MLA’s member communities (Sections and SIGs) by analyzing and recommending changes in the areas of community architecture and roles, member leadership development, content and education, and marketing in order to:

• increase the relevance, effectiveness and value of MLA Sections and SIGs to members;
• empower MLA members at the grassroots level;
• better support MLA programs;
• maximize the value, use and visibility of member content;
• reduce administrative complexity; and
• attract more members.

Goal: Education (Part 1)

Created February 2015 – completed November 2020 – see “Education (part 2)” strategic goal above for next step.

Goal: Strengthen MLA’s educational curriculum and offerings by revising MLA competencies for success, developing plan to roll-out education offerings, selecting LMS, creating content, and developing and implementing a marketing plan

in order to:

• Position MLA as the go-to education resource for health information professionals
• Foster excellence in the professional practice and leadership of health sciences library and information professionals
• Grow revenue outside of membership and annual meeting

Goal: MLA Technology

Created February 2015- expected completion by May 2018

Goal: Rationalize and transform MLA information and communication systems by migrating MLA headquarter internal systems to a solution that enhances staff collaboration and efficiency, migrating the current association management system and website (MLANET), section websites, blogs, email and discussion lists and other resources to a single association platform with robust community features, evaluate MLA meeting-related systems, and evaluate MLA educational delivery systems,

in order to:

• Improve user experience and access to information by members, customers, and the public on their preferred platform and devices
• Grow community interactions
• Provide an efficient seamless experience, and consistent MLA brand—for MLA and its chapters, sections, and SIGs—currently executed across multiple and disparate websites and communication channels
• Place MLA at the forefront of electronic content delivery
• Better utilize MLA resources to achieve strategic objective

Goal: Research

Created May 2015 – completed May 2018

Goal: Support and advance health information research and evidence-based practices in healthcare by developing and implementing strategies to improve the research skills and competencies of health sciences librarians, grow the body of health information knowledge, provide better access to research that supports evidence-based practice, and advocate to employers, members, and the public the value, impact, and benefits of health sciences libraries and librarians

in order to:

• Positively impact institutional and stakeholder outcomes, such as impacts on clinical care, student learning, and scientific research
• Improve the quality of health information services through the use, creation, and application of evidence in daily practice and processes
• Foster a culture of employer support for evidence-based practice, assessment, and related research
• Position MLA as the voice for evidence-based practice and matters related to research and statistics about health sciences libraries and librarians.

Goal: What MLA Does

Created February 2015 – completed May 2017

Rationalize MLA programs and services, and streamline and clarify organizational structure in the areas of audience definition, MLA Sections and SIGs, Annual Meeting activities, publications, international presence, headquarters and governance,

in order to:

• focus on programs that are strategic and relevant to members and customers and a good use of MLA resources; improve or eliminate programs that are not and introduce programs that are;
• speed up decision making and execution;
• improve MLA financial health (or avoid a deterioration of financial health).