Opportunities for Community Engagement and Belonging in MLA

Submitted by: Chloe Hough, Shalu Gillum, Brandon Kennedy (representing the Community Building and Belonging Committee)

Starting in 2025, members of the Medical Library Association Community Building and Belonging Committee (CBB) investigated what MLA is currently doing to support belonging amongst its members. The CBB Committee’s prior assessments found areas for improvement regarding MLA members feeling a lack of support and being unsure how to get involved in the organization. This article outlines current opportunities for community and belonging, as well as recommendations for further action and information sharing.  

Opportunities for Support

• Professional Support
  • Resume clinics
  • Mentorship program
  • Signing up for mentors at conferences 
• Personal Support and Connections
  • Identity-based caucuses (Latinx, AAMLA, LGBTQIA+, etc.)
  • Be Well
  • Opportunities for socializing and networking at conferences
• Support for New/Early Career Librarians
  • Early career groups in chapters
  • New Member Task Force
• Support for Hospital Librarians: Hospital Librarian Caucus
  • Accessible online events and activities 
  • Collaborations with other Caucuses
  • Support HLC members in submitting posters, immersion sessions, and lightning talks for the MLA annual conference
  • HLC Advocacy LibGuide: https://mlanet.libguides.com/advocacy
  • Discussion board for questions and input
• Support for International Members: International Cooperation Caucus
  • Accessible online events and activities 
  • Cunningham Fellows opportunity and support 
  • Member showcase series
  • International visitors’ reception and visitors’ table at MLA annual conference
  • Allied organizations representatives (AHILA, EAHILA, etc.)

Current Welcoming Practices 

• Recruitment and Retention Committee
• Increased funding opportunities and travel grants
• Virtual meeting options 
• Providing options for different dietary restrictions at conferences
• Quiet room/relaxation spaces at conferences
• Avoiding scheduling events during religious holidays

Recommendations for Future Growth

• Provide more avenues for advertisement for support (e.g., Resume clinic, CE opportunities, mentorship program)
• Provide more information about how MLA is organized, how to join caucuses, and what the benefit is 
• Give brief overviews of what being involved in MLA is like, e.g., “What’s it like to work on certain committees?”, “What’s it like to participate in __ program?”
• Create more opportunities for informal connection, either in person (at conferences) or online (e.g., Latinx Caucus Cafecito hour)
• Encourage new people to run for leadership positions
• Increase transparency on time commitment for leadership positions
  • Remember that leadership positions are a three-year commitment, so it can seem like the same people are in leadership positions (but they are serving out their terms)
• Ensure nominating committees are in place and actively recruiting recent members
• Ensure new member mentors are sharing nominating information with their mentees and offering support/feedback
• Widen calls for leadership positions 
  • Remember that it can be challenging to find volunteers for positions (elections can sneak up on leadership; it can be a scramble to find someone; it can be difficult to get volunteers in a field of introverts, etc.).
• Increase programming for new members and early career librarians
  • Advocate for a larger MLA-wide early career support group

While this article has outlined work MLA is doing to support its members, the CBB Committee recognizes that creating a culture of belonging is an ongoing process, and there is always work to be done. Part of our committee’s charge is to “evaluate and seek to improve MLA practices and programs as they relate to belonging and community building”, and we commit to continuous assessment in this area.