In one of my last actions as president, I appointed three task forces that will support implementation of MLA’s strategic goal to Build a Better Future.
The primary objective of the strategic goal is to understand MLA’s 125-year past to build a better future inclusive of all communities. The secondary objective is to further the knowledge and appreciation of MLA's achievements and contributions.
As they consider how to celebrate MLA’s 125th anniversary (May 2, 2023), the task forces will 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.
Established by the Board of Directors, the task forces are charged with leading the three parts of MLA's strategic goal on Building a Better Future, for an initial duration from May 1, 2021, to May 31, 2024. MLA members at large will play a key role in helping the task forces advance this goal. I encourage you to watch for opportunities to volunteer through MLAConnect and your community listservs.
The charges for each task force are detailed below and can be found on MLANET.
1. 125-Year Retrospective Task Force
The charge of the Retrospective Task Force is to establish and lead initiatives that will:
- Honor 125 years of MLA’s history with publications, events, and initiatives that highlight MLA milestones, deepen our understanding of the experience of diverse communities over the course of MLA's history, and ensure that all voices are represented within the historical narrative
- Support the quality of healthcare education and research throughout the world
- Ensure that all voices are represented within the historical narrative
To that end, the task force will:
- Collaborate with MLA’s caucuses and chapters to identify members who will contribute to the initiative and include community initiatives, activities, perspectives, and content
- Liaise with MLA editorial boards, program committees, and other MLA entities to ensure broad inclusive and diverse participation, cohesiveness, and alignment
- Partner with MLA headquarters for project management, coordination, communications, and other MLA resources as required
2. Vision 2048 Task Force
The charge of the Vision 2048 Task Force is to envision the future (twenty-five years) of the profession with community-driven activities and ideation that reflects the richness of MLA communities.
To that end, the task force will:
- Collaborate with MLA’s caucuses and chapters to plan community initiatives, activities, perspectives, and content
- Liaise with MLA editorial boards, program committees, and other MLA entities to ensure broad inclusive and diverse participation, cohesiveness, and alignment in the communication of the vision
- Partner with MLA headquarters for project management, coordination, communications, and other MLA resources as required
3. MLA Archives Task Force
The charge of the MLA Archives Task Force is to define MLA’s strategy for an online repository of MLA historical intellectual property in order to enhance member access to the association’s rich intellectual property holdings.
To that end, the task force tasks may include:
- Performing an environmental scan (what archives are where, include chapters, etc.)
- Creation of a vision and plan
- Identifying partners (e.g. for technology)
- Collaborating with the National Library of Medicine (repository for MLA print archives)
- Determining cost
- Providing information to establish a fundraising case statement