Medical Library Association

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,000 health sciences information professional members and partners worldwide. MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

What's New

Vote for Your MLA Leaders!
The 2010/11 MLA election is now underway! Official candidate information for the 2010/11 election is available on MLANET and includes candidate videos. An abridged form of the candidate information also appears in the November/December 2009 MLA News.

Members with email addresses on file at MLA headquarters were sent an election email on November 4. The email voting process will run until 11:59 p.m., central time, on December 8, 2009. Paper ballots were sent to MLA members without email addresses. Those ballots must be mailed in the return envelope included in the mailing and postmarked by December 4, 2009. If you have any questions please contact Evelyn Shaevel at MLA headquarters.

November/December MLA News Now Online
This issue features information about 2010/2011 election candidates, a Technology column on radio frequency identification (RFID), asks the question "Are Library Schools Teaching What the Next Generation of Librarians Needs to Know?" and an Internet Resources column on childhood vaccines. Read the MLA News >>

Sneak Preview for MLA's New AMS Continues!
Visit the MLA Connections blog for continuing coverage of MLA's new association management system (AMS). We appreciate your comments and ideas! >>

MLA eLearning Course
"Influence for Medical Librarians" is a new e-learning course hosted by MLA, Le@d and Pat Wagner. This five-week course, online, self-paced class starts November 16 (Orientation starts November 5). You will learn how influence is about making it easier for other people to say yes by earning their trust and respect and not through unsavory behavior. Through a series of interactive writing exercises and online group discussion, you will learn how to use positive concepts to impact the success of your medical library and your career. Le@d is currently taking registration >> .

MLA eLearning Opportunity
MLA's "Cut the Cord: Connecting to our Mobile Users" webcast is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 1:00 p.m.–3:00, central time. The goal of this program is to familiarize information professionals with current and emerging mobile technologies, innovative initiatives using mobile devices, useful mobile software applications, and funding options for projects using mobile devices. Registration is open to individuals and sites. Read more and register! >>

NIH Public Access Policy Slide Show Available for Download
MLA's Ad Hoc Committee For Advocating Scholarly Communication is pleased to announce the release of a new slide show: "NIH Public Access Policy: Overview for Librarians." The committee developed this resource in response to feedback it received from members who took the Fall 2008 survey on the NIH Public Access Policy. The slide show provides a template of information that can be modified for individual use, and is provided as both PowerPoint and PDF files depending on your needs. Download today! >>

Online Resume Clinic Now Offered to MLA Members
The MLA Online Resume Clinic has recently launched! Visit the MLA members-only area for expert review of your resume and interviewing tips.

MLA '09 Plenary Session Videos Online!
All MLA'09 plenary and business sessions plus the NLM update were recorded to video with synchronized slides this year and are available as FREE downloads (Quicktime *.mov files) to MLA members. Visit the members-only meeting content area for your link to register and download these MLA '09 plenary sessions. You may also Download MLA '09 abstracts and view MLA '09 posters online!

Vital Pathways White Paper Executive Summary Available
From saving hospitals thousands of dollars per year to saving patients’ lives, hospital librarians help fulfill many mission-critical roles in today’s hospital. The executive summary "Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians: Addressing the Hospital's Information and Training Needs" describes critical roles for hospital librarians from a white paper to be published in the October 2009 Journal of the Medical Library Association. Read more and download the executive summary >>