You want to go to MLA’19. (Of course you do! It’s going to be awesome!) However, you need to gather evidence to convince your administration. You’re a librarian. You’re good at compiling evidence, but we know you’re busy, so we’re here to help.
Make your case to your supervisor:
- Submit a paper, immersion session, lightning talk, or poster. What better way to get involved? Consider co-authoring with a colleague from your own institution or another institution.
- Write a justification letter to your supervisor making explicit connections between MLA programming and specific goals of your institution. Link what you will learn to specific library functions, including teaching, collections, management, or services.
- Get involved in a Chapter, Section or SIG or join an MLA committee. This is a good way to earn professional development or service points with administration.
- Brainstorm ways, such as room sharing and public transportation, to lower attendance costs.
- Share your new knowledge and skills by offering to give presentations about new technologies and strategies you learn about during the conference.
Here are some additional points to support your case to attend:
Relevant Papers, Lightning Talks, and Posters
MLA is the #1 place to be for health sciences librarianship. Do you need examples of engaging library instruction activities, strategies for program development, or ideas for collaborating with researchers? Check out the meeting program!
Immersion Sessions
New this year! The special content session has evolved into the immersion session. These session are the closest you can get to a CE without the extra cost of a CE. These sessions will be intensive and substantial with focused content designed to elevate your knowledge and skill to the next level.
Networking
Joining a MLA Section, SIG, or committee can help you gain service points with your administration. Consider running for office to get even more involved in a Section or SIG. Discuss ways to improve library services with colleagues at networking events and dine-abouts.
Vendors
The exhibit hall consists of a wide variety of vendors focusing on medical libraries and health information. Attend a technology session, sunrise seminar, or just walk around the exhibit hall. Vendors are happy to talk about new and existing products, and you’ll pick up a lot of free swag along the way.
Continuing Education
MLA’s diverse CE courses reflect the latest hot topics in medical librarianship. CE courses are a fantastic opportunity to learn a new skill to bring back to your library to elevate services and instruction.
Speakers
The speaker line-up is going to be amazing. So far, we’ve booked Nadya Okamoto, social entrepreneur and activist, famous for starting the nonprofit organization PERIOD: The Menstrual Movement. The other speakers will be announced soon.
See you at MLA ’19 in Chicago!