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Advocating for Authorship: Recognizing Librarians and Information Professionals as Authors on Evidence Synthesis Publications

Despite making significant intellectual contributions to systematic reviews and evidence synthesis publications, and meeting authorship criteria specified by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), librarians are frequently not granted authorship. MLA members requested that the MLA Board of Directors address this issue with ICMJE and develop a statement that individual librarians can use to advocate for authorship.

The MLA Board has approved the Statement, “It’s Time to Acknowledge Authorship for Librarians and Information Professionals on Evidence Synthesis Publications," in response to this issue of librarians not receiving authorship on evidence synthesis publications, such as guidelines and systematic reviews. This statement was developed in collaboration with the members making the initial request and incorporated feedback from prior chairs of the Systematic Review and Research caucuses, among others.

MLA's hope is that this statement raises awareness about, and ultimately increases, librarian co-authorship on evidence synthesis publications. Librarians and information professionals are welcome to use the Statement to advocate for recognition when their authorship is being questioned.

The Canadian Health Libraries Association / Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC) has co-signed the statement, and MLA calls on other organizations and publications to indicate their endorsed support by completing this form and submitting a request. 

Download MLA's Authorship Statement (PDF)

Complete the form to provide endorsed support of the statement.

MLA Authorship Statement