Draft Strategic Plan 2002 

MLA's Future: Issues, Challenges, and Choices

Strategic Plan, Final Version 4/18/2003

MLA's Vision
The Medical Library Association (MLA) believes that quality information is essential for improved health. To that end, MLA aspires to be the association of the most visible, valued, and trusted health information experts, fostering excellence in the professional achievement and leadership of health sciences library and information professionals to enhance the quality of healthcare, education and research throughout the world.

MLA's Core Values
On behalf of the profession, MLA will:

• improve the knowledge and skills of health information professionals
• advocate new directions and roles for the profession that respond to needs in society
• advance health information research and evidence-based practice
• uphold and promote the Code of Ethics for Health Sciences Librarians

On behalf of society, MLA will:

• advance the role of health information professionals in providing the best health information to all who work in healthcare, health education and research
• promote the use of scientific evidence in making healthcare decisions
  improve the public's awareness and use of quality health information
• promote a sense of community and collaboration with similar organizations to ensure that the best health information is available to all

MLA Goals and Objectives

1) Recruitment, Membership, and Leadership in the Profession

MLA will recruit and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to become health information professionals, serve them through the association, and foster their leadership roles in the association and the profession. The Association will:

a. aggressively promote health sciences librarianship and other health information careers to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including members of related health and information professions, high school and college students, and others;
b. promote exploration of new health information professional roles, knowledge and skills to better serve society;
c. promote mentorship and leadership opportunities to support the development and flourishing of 21st century health information professionals.

2) Life Long Learning

MLA will be the leading education provider and facilitator for life long learning opportunities in health information and knowledge management. The Association will:

a. extend the range of education programs available for health sciences librarians and other providers of health information;
a. expand the market for its education programs to include other librarians, students, health professionals, and the public to promote access and use of quality health information;
b. enhance its health information education programs' content and delivery methods to meet the needs of expanded audiences wherever they are;
c. offer credentialing programs that recognize special expertise to promote the value of life long learning;
d. seek partnerships with other organizations and institutions such as graduate schools of library and information science to encourage the provision of education opportunities for health information professionals.

3) Advocacy

MLA will demonstrate to the healthcare, education, and research communities, and the public the value of quality health information to society and the role that health information professionals play in producing and managing that information. The Association will:

a. be a leading advocate for professional concerns of health information experts in our society;
b. aggressively promote and communicate the value of health sciences librarians and information professionals to society, especially to those in the healthcare setting;
c. help its members advocate on their own behalf their value to their institutions;
d. serve as a leading advocate for unrestricted, affordable, and permanent access for all to quality health information and scientific communication that improves health.

4) Creating and Communicating our Knowledge

MLA will develop and manage a knowledge base of health information research and practice to demonstrate the value of health information for improved health, improve professional practice, and support life long learning. The provision of quality health information will be linked to improved healthcare and advances in biomedical research. The Association will:

a. promote and support health information research and evidence-based librarianship;
b. support the collection and use of data for assessment and quality improvement for health sciences libraries and information services, and for promoting the value of health information expertise;
c. use, and support members' use of, advanced information technologies to manage and disseminate health information.

5. Building a Network of Partners

MLA will actively serve every person working in health care and provide health information to the public through a global network of members and partners who share expertise and resources. The Association will:

a. seek local, regional, national and international partnerships with others who share its values and goals on information access including outreach to underserved communities;
b. support the information needs of individuals engaged in providing health information services to the public;
work to develop international connections that support access to quality information for improved health for all.

For further information, contact Carla Funk, funk@mlahq.org; fax, 312.419.8950.