MLA is now accepting nominations for Fellows and Honorary Members!
Throughout its history, MLA has recognized individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the purposes for which the Association stands by conferring a special membership status. “Honorary Member” was the term used until 1976, when a distinction was then made between MLA members and non-members who made contributions. MLA Fellows are members and elected by the Board of Directors for sustained and outstanding contributions to health sciences librarianship and to the advancement of the purposes of MLA. Fellows may use “FMLA” following their names. Honorary Members are individuals who are not regular members of MLA.
Nominations should address the following criteria appropriate to the specific nomination (Fellow or Honorary Member):
Fellows Criteria
- Nominee must be a current Regular member of MLA and must have held Regular or Institutional membership for at least fifteen (15) years prior to the nomination for Fellowship. (see below)
- Nominee must possess an ALA-accredited MLS, or Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) accepted post-baccalaureate degree.
- Nominee must have at least ten (10) years of professional experience in health information science.
- Nominee must have five (5) or more years of notable leadership in MLA, demonstrated by one or more elected or appointed offices in the national MLA as a committee, task force, or board member; or one or more elected or appointed offices in an MLA section or chapter; or a position as an elected or appointed officer in an allied national association such as ALA, SLA, HeSCA, etc.
- Nominee must have demonstrated outstanding achievement as evidenced by a highly significant contribution to the goals of the association in a relatively short period of time; or durable achievement by a sustained level of commitment to the goals of the association over a long period of time.
- Nominee must have demonstrated significant scholarship as evidenced by publication of one or more refereed publications in the area of health sciences librarianship; teaching or development of a course over a sufficient period of time for professional recognition of subject expertise; or research documented by grant funding, publication, or invited presentation of a paper.
- Nominee must have garnered a professional reputation as evidenced by letters of support or commendation from professional colleagues; being cited by colleagues in the literature; or evidence of adherence to the MLA Code of Ethics.
Honorary Member Criteria
- Nominee must be a non-member of MLA who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the purposes of the Medial Library Association.
- Nominee must be outside of the library profession.
- Nominee must have demonstrated outstanding achievement in an appropriate field, such as library/health science education; medical informatics; legislation; information services; or systems development/management/administration.
- Nominee must have demonstrated notable leadership in his or her chosen field, such as positions held; honors/awards received; refereed publications; adherence to/promulgation of standards; or educational attainments.
- Nominee must have demonstrated impact on the advancement of MLA’s mission as evidenced by acceptance of advocated philosophical tenets; adoption of new/modified methodologies in information management; promulgation of standards of performance; or influence on educational/service programs.
- Nominee must have garnered a professional reputation as evidenced by letters of support or commendation from professional colleagues; being cited by colleagues in the literature; or evidence of adherence to a professional code of ethics.
You can find more information and a link to the Nomination Form at the following website: https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=245
Nominations are due November 1, 2019.
MLA Fellows and Honorary Members Jury
Heather Holmes, Chair, Medical University of South Carolina
Lindsay Blake, University of Arkansas Medical Center
Virginia Carden, Duke University
Lisa Marks, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale
Elaine Martin, Harvard Medical School
Nicole Theis-Mahon, University of Minnesota
Elizabeth Irish, Albany Medical College