MLA Committees
Members participate in a number of MLA committees and taskforces:
- Standing Committees have annual responsibilities for furthering MLA's plans, goals, strategies, programs, and projects.
- Juries recommend recipients of awards, grants, scholarships, and fellowships.
- Editorial boards are appointed to serve as peer-review and evaluation boards for MLA publications.
- Task forces are appointed for a specific study or activity
Committees, Task Forces, and Editorial Boards | Building a Better Future Strategic Goal Task Forces | Awards and Honors Juries | Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships Juries
Awards Committee
Committee Charge
(Formerly Honors and Awards Committee)Established January 1985; Revised February 1998, September 2005
The committee consists of at least seven members, two appointed annually for three-year terms. The chair normally remains for a fourth year in this office; the chair-designate normally is selected from third-year members. The immediate past president serves as a voting, ex officio member. Donors of MLA awards are not eligible for appointment. The committee shall:
- administer the general MLA awards
- recommend to the board all policies relating to awards sponsored by MLA
- review periodically the appropriateness of existing general awards
- recommend modification, elimination, or suspension of existing awards
- make recommendations with respect to proposed awards
- coordinate the work of juries to select recipients of MLA awards
- provide general guidance regarding procedural aspects of the awards
- prepare, prior to the annual meeting, a master list of prospective recipients for endorsement by the board
- recommend, when appropriate, a candidate for the Marcia C. Noyes Award, given only when the committee agrees that a medical librarian should receive it for outstanding achievement
- prepare and submit an annual budget and midyear and annual reports
Juries
Juries consist of an odd number of members with a minimum of three members appointed annually for one-year terms. One memberof each jury is appointed as chair and serves as an ex officio member of the Awards Committee.
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Board and Administrative Committees, Executive Committee
Board and Administrative Committees
Established September 1974; Revised May 1988, December 1990, June 1991, May 1997
The committee is composed of the president, immediate past president, president-elect, and treasurer. The executive director serves as an ex officio member. The president serves as chair. The committee shall:
- meet when necessary between scheduled meetings of the board of directors to act on business of the association
- report all activities and actions taken no later than at the board meeting immediately following such actions
- assist, as directed by the board of directors, in the management of MLA's business
- conduct the annual performance evaluation and determine the compensation of the executive director
- provide advice and counsel to the president
- meet annually with the director of the National Library of Medicine to discuss issues of mutual concern
- identify and develop planning issues and create a planning agenda for the board of directors
Executive Committee
Established September 1974; Revised May 1988, December 1990, June 1991, May 1997
The committee is composed of the president, immediate past president, president-elect, and treasurer. The executive director serves as an ex officio member. The president serves as chair. The committee shall:
- meet when necessary between scheduled meetings of the board of directors to act on business of the association
- report all activities and actions taken no later than at the board meeting immediately following such actions
- assist, as directed by the board of directors, in the management of MLA's business
- conduct the annual performance evaluation and determine the compensation of the executive director
- provide advice and counsel to the president
- meet annually with the director of the National Library of Medicine to discuss issues of mutual concern
- identify and develop planning issues and create a planning agenda for the board of directors
See the Leaders page for current members
Books Panel
Books Panel
Established in 1976; Revised May 1988, May 1990, February 2001, September 2005, October 2012
The panel consists of at least seven members, two appointed annually for three-year terms. The chair remains for a fourth year, and a chair-designate, selected from the third-year members, succeeds as chair. The panel shall:
- conduct its business during monthly conference calls, email, and at the MLA annual meeting.
- actively solicit and propose ideas for new publications, evaluate proposals, and select authors of MLA books within the recommended scope of the publishing program.
- identify outside reviewers to review manuscripts as needed.
- increase awareness of MLA Publishing by finding ways to make it more visible to a variety of audiences, including library school professors and MLA members.
- promote book publishing in order to foster the professional development of members.
- prepare and submit annual objectives, budget, and midyear and annual reports.
- conduct evaluation of the book publication program on a regular basis
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Bylaws Committee
Established prior to September 1974; Revised December 1980, December 1990, May 1992, September 1998
The committee consists of four members, one appointed annually for a three-year term. The parliamentarian and executive director serve as ex officio members. The committee shall:
- prepare Bylaws changes as recommended by the board
- continually review the Bylaws so that it can recommend to the board the changes needed to permit the association to accommodate changing conditions and new responsibilities
- maintain an annotated and accurate copy of the certificate of incorporation, the constitution, and the Bylaws, which are printed in the Directory , including any changes presented to the membership at the annual meeting to be voted on later by mail ballot
- examine the Bylaws of new or existing chapters and sections and divisions of those bylaws to determine whether or not they are in conformity
- prepare and submit an annual budget and midyear and annual reports
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Credentialing Committee
Established December 1976; Revised February 1998
The committee consists of twelve members, who serve for staggered three-year terms, except the chair who serves a fourth year; the chair-designate is normally selected from third-year members. One member is appointed from a pool submitted by the Chapter Council. One member is appointed from a pool submitted by the Section Council. In years when there is a large number of portfolios to review, an ad-hoc task force will be appointed to assist in the reviewing process. The committee shall:
- review and recommend guidelines governing the MLA program of professional development and recognition
- recommend the content and skill areas required for initial eligibility for the program
- monitor the fair and equitable administration of the program
- maintain active liaison with the Chapter and Section Councils and the Continuing Education Committee
- support and promote membership participation in the program
- monitor all aspects of program implementation, and maintain ongoing program evaluation and analysis
- develop procedures for the review of materials submitted by candidates for membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals
- act as referees for all materials submitted by candidates for membership at all levels in the Academy
- approve candidates for membership in the Academy
- meet at least one time per year to review and validate procedures
- prepare and submit annual objectives and budget and midyear and annual reports
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Established May 2020
The MLA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is the coordinating and advisory body that evaluates and seeks to improve MLA practices and programs as they relate to diversity, equity and inclusion*.
The committee shall:
- promote and encourage a diverse MLA leadership at all levels;
- be a voice for DEI within MLA;
- advise and collaborate with MLA communities and committees on DEI-related issues;
- encourage, recommend and contribute to DEI-related programs, events and resources for MLA members and the public;
- recommend strategies to increase diversity in the profession;
- lead special DEI-related projects as directed by the Board of Directors.
To that end, the committee activities may include:
- liaising with the MLA Domain Hubs and Community Council to integrate the diverse views of MLA Caucuses into the broader MLA DEI vision, and to advise the community groups on DEI;
- liaising with the Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee (PRRC) on strategies related to improving the diversity of the pipeline to the profession;
- liaising with MLA headquarter staff to collect and analyze DEI data, and to create, update and guide the content of the MLA DEI microsite.
The DEI Committee composition should be inclusive and reflect the diversity of MLA membership. It includes:
- 6 to 9 members at-large selected because of their expertise in DEI-related issues, who serve staggered three-year terms;
- 1 chair-designate appointed from the pool of members at-large who will be serving their third year (or their second year if none are available);
- the chair-designate becomes the chair the following year, and will serve a fourth year if applicable.
*How MLA interprets diversity, equity and inclusion:
- Diversity – ways that people are both alike and different; understanding, accepting, and valuing differences that include race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, political beliefs, language, culture, nationality, age, ability status, and religion
- Equity – takes differences into account to ensure fair and impartial processes and outcomes, and equal opportunity
- Inclusion – all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully; are intentionally valued for their distinctive skills, experiences, and perspectives; have equal access to resources and opportunities; feel a sense of belonging; and can contribute fully to the association’s success.
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Education: Education Steering Committee
Established November 2016, effective June 1, 2017, revised March 2020
The Education Steering Committee is the oversight and coordinating body for MLA education.
The committee shall, in collaboration with the Director of Education and the established curriculum committees:
- set and share the vision for MLA education programming;
- develop and monitor MLA’s overall curriculum plan, following MLA’s professional competencies and serving target audiences;
- coordinate curriculum planning with non-MLA entities;
- request, review, and approve proposals for educational offering;
- recommend for approval by the Board the creation and modification of curriculum committees;
- monitor the performance of curriculum committees;
- address specific issues as determined by the Board or Director of Education.
The Education Steering Committee is not responsible for:
- creation, approval, or implementation of individual educational offerings;
- pricing and funding;
- resource and operational management; or
- marketing.
The specific duties are outlined in the committee’s operation manual.
The DEI Committee composition includes:
- 9 to 13 members at-large selected because of their expertise in education strategy, who serve staggered three-year terms;
- 1 chair-designate appointed from the pool of members at-large who will be serving their third year (or their second year if none are available);
- the chair-designate becomes the chair the following year, and will serve a fourth year if applicable;
- 1 ex officio non-voting member appointed by the Community Council;
- 1 ex officio non-voting member appointed by Chapter Council;
- the Education Director as ex officio member
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Education: Curriculum Committee
Established June 2023 (combines all prior Curriculum Committees)
The Curriculum Committee shall, in collaboration with the Education Steering Committee and the Director of Education:
- design and plan curriculum and educational offerings and resources;
- provide direction, expertise, and knowledge to creators and instructors of educational offerings with respect to content and instructional design;
- review and assess offerings to ensure they are high quality and current, meet learning outcomes, and have a succession plan.
The Curriculum Committee shall also:
- provide an annual or multi-year proposal to be approved by the Education Steering Committee for educational offering development that contributes to the MLA’s overall curriculum plan;
- maintain an operations manual that accurately reflects its work.
Curriculum Committee consists of 6 to 13 members who are appointed because of their topical, educational, and/or instructional design expertise:
- 6 to 12 members at-large who serve for staggered three-year terms,
- one chair selected from one of the outgoing members who serves a fourth year; alternatively, one of the members at-large can be the chair.
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Education: Data Services Specialization Workgroup
Established June 2023
The Data Services Specialization Workgroup shall, in collaboration with the Education Steering Committee and the Director of Education:
- detail pending...
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Education: Systematic Review Services Specialization Workgroup
Established June 2023
The Systematic Review Services Specialization Workgroup shall, in collaboration with the Education Steering Committee and the Director of Education:
- detail pending...
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Education: New HSL Curriculum Project Workgroup
Established June 2023
The New HLS Librarian Curriculum Project Workgroup shall, in collaboration with the Education Steering Committee and the Director of Education:
- detail pending...
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Finance Committee
Established November 2017
The Finance Committee shall review the MLA annual budget, the performance of MLA in meeting its budgeted revenues and expenses, the audit report, MLA’s investment policy and investments, and shall assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.
The Finance Committee consists of:
- the current Treasurer who will serve a chair;
- the Immediate Past President;
- the MLA Executive Director;
- the Treasurer-Elect when that position is filled;
- one or more members of the Board, for a period between one year and their time remaining on the Board;
- one member at-large, for a period not to exceed three years.
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Grants and Scholarships Committee
Established January 1985; Revised February 1998; September 2005
The committee consists of at least seven members, two appointed annually for three-year terms. The chair normally remains for a fourth year in this office; the chair-designate is normally selected from third-year members. The immediate past president serves as a voting, ex officio member. Donors of MLA scholarships and awards are not eligible for membership on the committee. The committee shall:
- administer grants and scholarships in the name of MLA
- recommend to the board all policies relating to scholarships and grants made or sponsored by MLA
- review periodically the appropriateness of existing MLA scholarships and grants
- recommend modification, elimination, or suspension of existing scholarships and grants
- make recommendations with respect to proposed new awards
- coordinate fund-raising activities in support of scholarships and grants sponsored by the association
- coordinate the work of juries appointed annually to select the recipients of the grants and scholarships
- provide general guidance regarding the procedural aspects of selecting recipients of the grants and scholarships
- prepare and submit an annual budget and midyear and annual reports
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History Committee
Established June 1977; Revised December 1984, September 1996, September 2005Name changed to History Committee from Oral History Committee in June 2022
The History Committee is the body that oversees the association’s history program in North American health sciences information, with a focus on the Medical Library Association and evolving historical events that impact the profession, and furthers MLA’s core values in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The committee shall:
- coordinate all published and unpublished components of MLA’s history;
- identify traditional and emerging formats for capturing histories across the association*;
- determine criteria for submission of histories based on the specific format;
- coordinate the selection of historical voices and stories;
- support the training of interviewers, editors and other roles for the history program;
- assist in promoting the oral history program to contributors, MLA members and the public;
- help maintain the history website;
- undertake special projects, as tasked by the board, that support the creation of and access to history in the health sciences;
- prepare and submit annual objectives, budget, and midyear and annual reports.
The committee should be inclusive and reflect the diversity of MLA membership. It includes:
- At least 5 members at-large who are selected because of their interest and expertise in the activities of the committee, appointed annually for staggered three-year terms;
- 1 chair-designate preferably selected from the pool of members at-large, serving for one year;
- 1 chair, serving for one year;
- 1 immediate past chair, serving for one year;
- Liaisons from MLA caucuses or other MLA committees as recommended by the chair-designate and appointed by the MLA President-Elect.
- The chair of the committee may appoint individuals to specific project-related roles as required, from members of the committee or at-large.
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JMLA Editorial Board
Established prior to September 1974; Revised April 1988, May 1989, July 1992, October 2012, February 2016; November 2019
The JMLA editorial board supports the JMLA editor in publishing JMLA. The board shall:
- carry out their roles in the publication of the JMLA in accordance with instructions from the editor – those roles may include providing advice, being an ambassador for JMLA, executing administrative tasks, managing a specific column, reviewing articles, and other tasks and projects as determined by the editor; and
- regularly meet to evaluate, strategize, and plan
The JMLA editorial board is chaired by the JMLA editor. The board consists of volunteer editors appointed as needed by the JMLA editor, generally for three-year renewable terms. Their roles may include:
- Senior editors: Experienced members, such as previous editors-in-chief, who may provide advice to the editor, spread awareness of the journal to readers and submitters, and perform such duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the editor
- Associate editors: Editors who assist with the administrative and editorial tasks of the editor in chief (may also be referred to as coeditors or another title as appropriate)
- Series editors: Editors with responsibility for particular columns or parts of the journal, such as reviews or obituaries
- Peer reviewers consist of at least twenty-one reviewers, seven appointed annually for three-year terms in consultation with the editor of the JMLA. Peer reviewers shall act as referees for papers submitted for publication in the JMLA in accordance with instructions from the editor
- Liaisons to MLA domain hubs: editors should encourage the solicitation of JMLA article submissions that reflect domain hub interests
- and other tasks and projects as determined by the editor
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Joseph Leiter NLM/MLA Lectureship Committee
Established January 1984; Revised September 1995; September 2005
The committee consists of an equal number of members from MLA and the National Library of Medicine appointed by the president of MLA. At least two of the appointed members, including one from the National Library of Medicine, will be appointed each year. The chair, selected from the two most senior members, would be the NLM appointee for the year in which the lecture would be held at NLM, and the MLA appointee the year in which the lecture will be given at the annual meeting. The chair of MLA's National Program Committee serves an an ex officio member during the year in which a lecture is given at the MLA annual meeting. The committee shall:
- provide for the joint sponsorship by MLA and NLM of an intellectual dialog on subjects related to biomedical communications that will serve to stimulate intellectual liaison between NLM and MLA
- determine the topic, form of presentation, and identity of sponsored speakers in accordance with the terms of the agreement; presentations may be, but are not limited to, individual lecturers, symposia, or panel discussions
- make decisions on cosponsoring a presentation with funding from other organizations or individuals
- prepare and submit an annual budget and midyear and annual reports
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Membership Committee
Established prior to September 1974; Revised December 1980, December 1988, May 1990, May 1991, September 1999, February 2001, February 2005
The Core Membership Committee shall be composed of eleven members, two appointed annually for three-year terms. The chair normally remains for a fourth year; the chair designate is normally selected from second-year members.
The committee shall include a new member, a student member, a chapter representative, a section representative, a Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee representative; a graduate library school faculty member and five other core committee members included the chair. The section and chapter representatives will be appointed by their respective councils, the library school faculty member by the Medical Library Education Section, and the new/student member terms will be staggered.
The committee shall:
- Review, recommend, and assist in the implementation of policies to promote membership in the association.
- Assist with planning and evaluation of membership promotion efforts.
- Assist with implementing specific membership development strategies, such as prospective member list development, telephone follow-up, and new member welcome and reception.
- Prepare and submit annual objectives and budget; submit midyear and annual reports to the Board of Directors.
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MLAConnect Editorial Board
Established October 2012; revised November 2019
The MLAConnect editorial board supports the MLAConnect editor in publishing the MLAConnect content. The board shall:
- carry out their roles in the publication of MLAConnect in accordance with instructions from the editor – those roles may include managing a column, reviewing article submissions, soliciting article publications, and writing articles
- regularly meet to evaluate, strategize, and plan
- the MLA executive director, or appointed MLA staff member, is an ex officio member of the MLAConnect editorial board
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National Program Committees
Established December 1976; Revised December 1987; November 2019
The Board of Directors establishes a new National Program Committee (NPC) to support the organization of each future MLA Annual Meeting, three years prior to its occurrence. Each committee terminates on December 31 following the corresponding annual meeting.
In years where the meeting is a joint meeting, the Board of Directors may modify the name of the committee (e.g., if the collaboration is with an international organization) and the rules of its composition.
The committee's primary responsibility is to assemble a quality program that aligns with the strategic objectives of MLA, and represents the diversity of interests of MLA members, in accordance with the guidelines of the Annual Meeting Planning Guide, and in collaboration with MLA headquarters staff. This includes:
- developing the meeting theme
- calling for and evaluating contributed papers
- soliciting the participation of peer reviewers
- identifying and inviting speakers
- assisting MLA headquarters staff in making necessary local arrangements and to provide staffing for such activities as hospitality, via the Local Assistance Committee (LAC) subcommittee of the NPC
The committee contributes to other essential areas that are the responsibility of MLA headquarters staff, such as:
- assisting with city iconic imagery
- publicizing the meeting
- creating the meeting schedule
- identifying vendor interests
- attending site visits as required
The committee is not responsible for:
- general marketing
- logistics
- budgeting, including registration rates
- exhibits
- continuing education courses
- activities and content other than those listed above (e.g., awards, receptions, business meeting, open forums, committee meetings, caucus gatherings)
The NPC consists of members who are appointed because of their expertise in program planning and their diverse representation of MLA interests and members, and includes:
- one chair or two co-chairs, and one chair or two LAC co-chairs for the host city appointed by the President up to three years prior to the meeting
- 8 to 12 members, including one assigned as liaison to each domain hub appointed as part of the regular committee appointment cycle two years prior to the annual meeting
- one representative of the Community Council appointed by the chair of Community Council
- one representative of the Chapter Council appointed by the chair of Chapter Council
- the executive director and members of the MLA headquarters staff appointed by them
Additional responsibilities include:
- the LAC chair appoints a group of subcommittees to assist headquarters in making necessary local arrangements and to provide staffing for such activities as hospitality. The number of subcommittees and their type will vary from city to city. The chairs of these subcommittees, together with the local assistance chair, serve as the local steering committee
- the liaison to each domain hub shares with the NPC the interests and latest trends occurring in member caucuses; they in turn solicit member caucuses for individuals to submit contributed sessions
- the representatives of the Community and Chapter Councils are responsible for the channels of communication between the NPC on their respective councils, and for specific calls to action
Subcommittees
The local assistance chair appoints a group of subcommittees to assist headquarters in making necessary local arrangements and to provide staffing for such activities as hospitality. The number of subcommittees and their type will vary from city to city. The chairs of these subcommittees, together with the local assistance chair, serve as the local steering committee.
2023 National Program Committee
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2024 National Program Committee
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2024 National Program Committee - Collection Development Workgroup
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2024 National Program Committee - Leadership and Management Workgroup
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2024 National Program Committee - Data Management and Services Workgroup
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2025 National Program Committee
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Nominating Committee
Established prior to September 1974 (from Article V, sec. 1–2 of the bylaws); Revised December 1987, January 1992
Nine Voting Members shall be elected annually to the committee. The immediate past president shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting chair of the committee. Members of the Board of Directors may not serve as voting members of the committee. All ten shall serve for a term beginning as soon as the votes of the mail election in which they were elected have been counted and ending when votes have been counted in the election using the ballot they prepared. Any vacancy arising in the offices of committee members shall be filled by the Board of Directors. No one shall serve on the committee as a voting member for more than one term during a period of five years. Each chapter and each section of the association shall submit to its council annually the name of one Voting Member, chosen in accordance with chapter or section bylaws, as a potential candidate for membership on the Nominating Committee; this submission shall be made to the appropriate council before its final assembly at the association's annual meeting. Each potential candidate shall prepare a biographical statement and a signed statement of willingness-to-serve if elected as a member of the committee. These statements shall accompany the names submitted. The Chapter Council and the Section Council, while assembled at the association's annual meeting, shall each select six candidates from the names submitted by the chapters and sections and shall present those names to the chair of the Nominating Committee immediately thereafter. The Board of Directors shall present to the chair of the Nominating Committee no later than September 25 the names of six Voting Members as its candidates and any additional names needed to achieve a minimum of nine candidates on the ballot, all with the accompaniments as stipulated in Section 2 of this Article. No person shall consent to being a potential candidate or a candidate for membership on the committee who is already such a potential candidate or candidate from some other unit of the association; no candidate for membership on the committee shall also be a candidate for an elective office of the association, or vice versa. The committee shall
- prepare annually a slate of at least two nominees for president-elect and for each director elected by the membership at large whose term expires
- accompany the slate with a biographical statement for each candidate, a photograph of the candidate, a written statement of the candidate's consent to serve if elected, and a statement prepared by the candidate describing his or her aims as an officer of the association
- submit midyear and annual reports
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Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee
Established December 2003 as ad hoc committee; approved as standing committee September 2006; charge revised 11/2014
The Committee consists of at least seven members, two appointed annually for three-year terms. If a third-year member is chosen for chair designate, that person may remain for a fourth year to serve as chair. The committee also has a board liaison and staff liaison that are non-voting members of the committee. Liaisons from the Chapter and Section Councils and the Medical Library Association’s Membership Committee and other MLA units may be appointed as nonvoting members as needed. The committee shall attract and retain individuals from diverse populations into the health sciences librarianship field. It should determine ways to offer mentoring, outreach, and training opportunities to organizations and to individuals already in the field, transitioning to new roles or seeking information about the field. Specifically, this standing committee is charged to:
- Collaborate with local chapters to support relationships with career counselors and faculty advisors, especially those serving minority students, to promote health sciences librarianship as a viable career option.
- Collaborate with local chapters to promote health sciences librarianship to library and information school educators to encourage the inclusion of health sciences courses and curriculums.
- Collaborate with local chapters to partner with library/information schools to develop health sciences librarianship programs for distance learning, including Web-based courses, to aid those students who are geographically bound in an area without an ALA-accredited library/information science program.
- Identify and implement strategies to inform other types of librarians and second-career-seeking individuals about health sciences librarianship.
- Facilitate, staff and promote the annual Resume Clinic and provide additional career resources as needed.
- Refine and promote the Mentor Database.
- Collaborate with Special Interest Groups (SIGS) and other MLA groups to recruit and retain professionals.
- Recommend new or update current career recruitment materials as needed.
- Maintain inventory of MLA chapter and section recruitment efforts and encourage MLA chapters to conduct recruitment efforts at the local level.
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Societal Issues Task Force
Established September 2022
The MLA Role in Societal Issues Task Force will create and recommend guidelines, objectives, and processes to address social justice and human rights issues to the MLA Board of Directors.
The guidelines, objectives, and processes shall:
- Clarify how MLA selects issues it will address, taking into account the MLA mission in health sciences, the MLA audience of health sciences information professionals, the diversity of opinions of MLA members, MLA’s limited resources in volunteer and staff time and in budget, and MLA’s 501c(3) nonprofit status;
- Further clarify the role of MLA caucuses who currently are encouraged to issue their own statements as part of MLA, the role of the DEI committee, and MLA as the overall organization;
- Prioritize action-taking and practical impact over issuing or co-signing statements;
- Define strategies for engaging MLA communities in the process, including subject matter experts, and for partnering with other organizations; and
- Set expectations for response time and scope.
The Task Force shall include members appointed by the MLA President for a term ending with submitting the recommendations to the Board of Directors no later than May 31, 2023.
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Special Program Committee for 2023 Collection Development/Resource Sharing
Established October 2021
The Special Program Committee (SPC) supports organization topical meetings (summits, symposia or other) that require it. Each SPC terminates no later than three months following the corresponding meeting.
The committee's primary responsibility is to assemble a quality program that aligns with the strategic objectives of MLA, in collaboration with MLA headquarters staff. This may include:
- developing the meeting theme
- calling for and evaluating contributed papers or other program submissions
- soliciting the participation of peer reviewers
- identifying and inviting speakers
The SPC consists of a diverse representation of individuals who are appointed because of their expertise in program planning and the topic area, and includes:
- one chair or two co-chairs
- 4 to 12 members as required based on the scope of the meeting
- one representative of the National Program Committee (NPC) if the special program is part of or adjacent to the MLA annual conference
- one representative of the Board of Directors
- the executive director and/or members of the MLA headquarters staff appointed by them
Appointed individuals may be non-MLA members (e.g. experts, publishers or other vendors) if appropriate to achieve the program objectives.
The committee is not responsible for logistics, budgeting including registration rates, exhibits if applicable, marketing or communications, and generally any activity that isn’t directly related to the programing content.
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Joint MLA/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) Legislation Committee
Established 1985; revised December 1987, May 1991, February 2002 (effective May 2002), revisedJune 2020
The committee develops and promotes a joint legislative agenda both externally and internally that supports a consistent position on information policy issues, particularly those relevant to medical libraries and librarianship, and on governmental actions affecting medical libraries.
To leverage its reach and ability to educate Congress about relevant issues, members are appointed preferably from the districts and states of members of Congress sitting on committees addressing MLA and AAHSL’s legislative priorities (e.g., NIH and NLM funding)
MLA and AAHSL committee members are encouraged to routinely communicate public policy updates and activate their networks when needed (e.g., MLA chapter, MLA caucus, and AAHSL listservs)
An ad hoc working group is appointed to plan a Capitol Hill Day for the MLA membership two years before MLA’s annual meeting is held in DC.
MLA is represented on the task force by the president (one year), and four members at large with legislative experience (two serve three-year terms, two serve four-year terms). The executive director and a representative from the National Library of Medicine serve as nonvoting, ex officio members.
The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) is represented by the association's president, and four AAHSL members at large with legislative experience. AAHSL members serve four-year terms. MLA and AAHSL members at large may be appointed for a consecutive second term.
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Building a Better Future Strategic Goal Task Forces
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 achievements and contributions.
In celebrating 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.
125-Year Retrospective Task Force
Established May 2021 to May 2024
The charge of the 125-Year 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 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, 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.
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Most Notable Workgroup
Established May 2022; to May 2024
The Most Notable Workgroup will develop criteria and identify members who have made notable contributions to MLA since the centennial in 1998 (past 25 years) and who reflect MLA's core DEI values.
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Vision 2048 Task Force
Established May 2021 to May 2024
The charge of the Vision 2048 Task Force is to envision the future (25 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.
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MLA Archives Task Force
Established May 2021 to May 2024
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
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Awards and Honors Juries
Awards and honors juries serve under the auspices of the Awards Committee. Juries consist of an odd number of members with a minimum of three members appointed annually for one-year terms. One member is appointed as chair and serves as an ex officio member of the Awards Committee. Juries annually review nominations and applications for awards and honors and make recommendations to the committee.
Virginia L. and William K. Beatty Volunteer Service Award
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Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian of the Year
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Chapter Project of the Year
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Lois Ann Colaianni Award for Excellence and Achievement in Hospital Librarianship
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Consumer Health Librarian of the Year Award Jury
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Louise Darling Award for Distinguished Achievement in Collection Development in the Health Sciences
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Janet Doe Lectureship
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Ida and George Eliot Prize
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Fellows and Honorary Members
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Carla J. Funk Governmental Relations Award
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T. Mark Hodges International Service Award
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Lucretia W. McClure Excellence in Education Award
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Erich Meyerhoff Prize
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Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Awards Jury
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Daniel T. Richards Prize Jury
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Rising Stars Award
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Rittenhouse Award
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Frank Bradway Rogers Information Advancement Award
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Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships Juries
Juries serve under the auspices of the Grants and Scholarships Committee and annually review applications and provide recommendations to the committee for grants, scholarships, and fellowships to be awarded.
Ysabel Bertolucci MLA Annual Conference Support
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Naomi C. Broering Latinx Heritage Grant
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Collection Development Professional Development Grant
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Continuing Education Grant
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Cunningham Memorial International Fellowship
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EBSCO MLA Annual Conference Support
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Financial Support Jury - Annual vConference and Exhibits
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Financial Support Jury - CE Passport
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Eugene Garfield Research Fellowship
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Mary K. Haver Consumer Health Professional Development Grant
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MLA Hospital Libraries Professional Development Grant
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David A. Kronick and Charles W. Sargent Visiting Fellowship
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Librarians Without Borders® Ursula Poland International Scholarship
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Donald A. B. Lindberg Research Fellowship
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MLA Doctoral Fellowship
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MLA Medical Informatics Career Development Grant
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MLA Research, Development, and Demonstration Project Grant
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MLA Scholarships (including for Underrepresented Students)
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Research Training Institute Jury
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Harriet L. Steuernagel Continuing Education Grant Jury
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