Honorary Member

Throughout its history, the Medical Library Association (MLA) has consistently sought to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to further the vision, values, and mission of the association. For many decades, the term “Honorary Member” was utilized for this purpose. In 1976 MLA introduced a distinction to recognize both members and non-members who had significantly enriched the association. Two categories were created:

• Honorary Members are individuals who are not regular members of MLA. They are elected by the Board of Directors for sustained and outstanding contributions to health sciences librarianship and to the advancement of the purposes of MLA.
  • The listing below includes Honorary Members since 1976.
• MLA Fellows are members who are also 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.
  • See the complete listing of Fellows and Honorary Members (prior to 1976) for selected biographical information that illustrates each Fellow’s contributions to MLA. 

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.

Nominations 

• Nomination form, including all supporting documentation, must be completed no later than November 1.
• Nominations are accepted from the membership-at-large and from members of the Fellowship and Honorary Members Jury or the MLA Board of Directors.
• Nominations should include documents or web links verifying the criteria noted above, plus any other pertinent information regarding suitability of the nominee for Honorary Membership.
• Up to three letters of support may be included with the nomination.  

Ready to Submit a Nomination?

The nomination must be completed, and all supporting documents uploaded no later than November 15.

Past Recipients

• 2024
• Mary Langman
• 2019
• Ray Naegele
• 2013
• Donald A.B. Lindberg, MD, 2013*
• 2009
• Carla Funk
• 2003
• Dale Dirks
• 2000
• Laura Shane Godbolt, 2000*
• Harold M. Schoolman, MD, 2000*
• 1999
• William G. Cooper, PhD, 1999*
• 1998
• R. Haynes
• William Harcourt Majors, 1998*
• John Albert Majors, 1998*
• 1997
• Michael E. DeBakey, MD, 1997*
• David W.C. Stewart, 1997*
• 1996
• Marion Ball
• 1995
• Paul Schyve
• 1993
• Edward Huth
• 1992
• Henry Kissman
• 1990
• Nicholas E. Davies, 1990*
• Frances Humphrey Howard 1990*
• 1989
• Lois DeBakey*
• 1985
• John P. McGovern, MD, 1985*
• 1984
• Marjorie P. Wilson, MD, 1984*
• 1978
• Norman F. Stearns, MD, 1978*
• 1977
• Kelly McGuffin West, 1977*