MLA - Medical Library Association (U.S.)

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Introduction

See also National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a nonprofit, educational organization of 1,100+ institutions and 4000 members in the health library and information profession. The MLA is committed to educating information professionals and supporting health information research. It promotes access to the world's health information and works to ensure that the best health information is available to all.

MLA was founded in 1898 by three prominent figures in 19th century medical librarianship including two Canadians: Sir William Osler and Margaret Ridley Charlton.

Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP)

AHIP - the Academy of Health Information Professionals - is MLA's peer-reviewed professional development and career recognition program. The academy recognizes the investment of time and effort required for exemplary performance and to contribute to the association and to the profession. AHIP provides a structure for individual professional development for all health information professionals, no matter how long they've been in the field. Whether you are new to the profession or have been working for years, the academy has a membership level and professional development guidelines for you.

Benefits of MLA membership

• Access to JMLA
• Discounted rates at conferences and CE classes
• Involvement with other professionals
• Network opportunities
• Tools online for members only
• Membership in a professional organization is something that elevates us from admin to professional status
• Newsletter and journal to keep us current in our field
• Exposure to best practices
• Collegiality
• Enhance your career through AHIP credential
• Learn from talking to people at conferences and meetings
• Network of professional peers that can help you do your job better
• MLA serves as a strong advocate for health science librarians
• MLA supports a mentorship program
• MLA provides a platform for members to contribute through presentations, posters, and publications
• Free online CE opportunities
• A chance to contribute wisdom/ideas/scholarships to the profession
• MLA's list of benefits - http://www.mlanet.org/joinmla/bencat.html

Canadian context

Many Canadian health librarians go to the MLA conferences annually. Our national association, CHLA/ABSC (Canada) sends a representative from the Board (usually the President) to represent us at meetings. It seems that more and more Canadian health librarians are applying for AHIP designation but some say that the program is expensive. Others suggest that AHIP does not address our specific learning and professional development needs in Canada. One problem may be that AHIP is not widely-known or recognized by health library employers in Canada. Still others suggest that AHIP costs are prohibitive and outweigh benefits. It has been suggested that CHLA/ABSC (Canada) adopt its own credentialing or licensing program.

References

• About the Medical Library Association
  • Building Collections - http://colldev.mlanet.org/resources/professional_resources.htm
  • Consumer Health Information Specialization Program - http://www.mlanet.org/education/chc/
• Baker LM, Kars M, and Petty J. Health sciences librarians' attitudes toward the Academy of Health Information Professionals. J Med Libr Assoc. 2004 Jul; 92(3):323–30.
• Flemming T, Dorsch J, Funk CJ. The Academy of Health Information Professionals: ripe for research. J Med Libr Assoc 2004 Jul;92(3):297-8.
• Connor Jennifer. Guardians of medical knowledge: the genesis of the Medical Library Association. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000.
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