Editing Medical Library Association (section)

== Activities ==

=== Advocacy ===
Advocacy efforts for librarians and the library profession take many forms within MLA: Resources are provided to help hospital librarians communicate with other leaders in their institutions about the true value of librarians and library services, including ''Advocacy Toolbox: A Practical Guide to Communicating Your Value''. The MLA Governmental Relations Committee is charged with developing consistency in the Association's position on information policy issues, and on governmental actions affecting medical libraries. Legislative updates on topics such as funding for library programs and services; health care reform, and copyright issues are provided. The MLA Vital Pathways Task Force reviews existing data and trends in the status of hospital librarians, collects data on the links between libraries and quality and financial outcomes, and develops action plans to influence hospital decision-makers and key leaders in the health care field.

=== Career development ===
MLA offers career services for health sciences information professionals, students attending library school programs, and those interested in learning more about a career as a medical librarian. MLA offers programs to improve the knowledge and skills of its members and provide continuing education and credentialing to its members.

=== Cunningham fellowship ===
The Cunningham Fellowship is an award for health sciences librarians from countries outside the United States and Canada. The award provides for attendance at the MLA annual meeting and observation and supervised work in one or more medical libraries in the United States or Canada.

=== Publications and website ===
* ''Journal of the Medical Library Association'' MLA's quarterly, peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Vols. 90–; 2002– Akers, Katherine G., Jill Barr-Walker, and Kathleen Amos. 2020.<ref>“The State of the Journal: ''The Journal of the Medical Library Association in 2020.''” ''Journal of the Medical Library Association'' 108 (4): 523–26.</ref>
* '''''Bulletin of the Medical Library Association''''' Vols. 1–89; 1911–2001
* ''Biomedical Digital Libraries'' (2003–2007)
* ''MLA-FOCUS'' A bimonthly electronic newsletter for MLA members.
* ''MLA News'' A monthly newsletter for members and subscribers that includes news about the profession; articles that impart practical, on-the-job wisdom; and information about MLA products and services.
* ''Books'' Books written by medical librarians on subjects of interest to medical librarians and other health information professionals.
* ''BibKits'' Selective, annotated bibliographies of discrete subject areas in the health sciences literature.
* ''DocKits'' Collections of representative, unedited library documents from a variety of institutions that illustrate the range of approaches to library management.
* The association's website includes information for patients as well as librarians.  The Washington Post recommended this site to patients, stating that it can help patients understand medical terminology and find the best sources of information on the Internet, but that the association's website is difficult to navigate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-319393.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117151224/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-319393.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |author=Zeidner, Rita|title=Health Web Site Reviewed |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 2, 2003 |access-date=August 30, 2013}}</ref>

=== Conferences and meetings ===
Attendees at MLA's annual meeting present and discuss scholarly papers, applied research, and issues in health sciences information management. Professionals with specific interests in related fields such as medical informatics come together to address topics of timely importance. Educational sessions are complemented by an exhibit featuring more than 100 vendors of appropriate products and services.  The first MLA annual meeting was in 1898, in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past and Future Meetings |url=https://www.mlanet.org/page/past-and-future-meetings |access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref> The most recent meeting was held in [[Detroit]], Michigan May 16–19, 2023. Since 2020, MLA annual meetings have offered virtual or hybrid participation options for members unable to attend in person.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLA: Meetings: Past and Future Meetings |url=https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=56 |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.mlanet.org}}</ref>

'''Future Meetings'''
* 2024  Portland, OR     May 18–21