MLA Chapter Project of the Year Award

The MLA Chapter Project of the Year Award was established by the MLA Board of Directors in 1995. The award was proposed by the Platform for Change Implementation Task Force as one of the ways to encourage health sciences librarians to creatively respond to the challenges of an evolving profession. This award recognizes excellence, innovation, and contribution to the profession of health sciences librarianship. These attributes must be shown through special projects beyond the normal operational programming of the chapter.

J.A. Majors Company (managed by John Albert Majors Jr. and William Harcourt Majors) endowed this award in 1995. Baker & Taylor acquired J.A. Majors Company in 2004 and Follett Corporation acquired Baker & Taylor in 2016. A decision to cease operations of Majors Medical Books and the retail book market was made in 2019.

Criteria

The Chapter Project of the Year Award Jury will review nominations and award points based on overview, excellence, innovation, and contribution to the profession.

• Applicants must be MLA chapters, as defined by the MLA Bylaws.
• Support by the chapter for the application, as evidenced by an endorsement from the chapter chair on behalf of the executive committee or officiating body of the chapter.
• Application is made for excellence in special projects or innovative operation programming demonstrating advocacy, leadership, service, technology, or innovations that contribute to the advancement of the health sciences librarian.
• Evidence and assessment of the achievements and impact of the project on the profession and the members of the affected chapter must be demonstrated through goals, objectives, and project evaluation or outcome.
• The chapter project must have been completed within the three years preceding the date of the application or must be an ongoing program that accomplishes the same goals set out for the project criteria. Projects/programs may be resubmitted as long as the timeframes and criteria are still met.

Nominations

• The online application must be completed and all supporting documents uploaded no later than November 1. 
• The application must be accompanied by an acknowledgment and endorsement letter from the chapter’s chair on behalf of the executive committee or officiating body of the chapter.
• Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered.

Recipients

The chair of the recipient chapter will be notified in March. The recipient chapter receives a cash award of $500 after the annual conference. The cash award is earmarked for enhancing the programming of the recipient chapter’s annual or regular membership conference. If there are no appropriate projects, the association may elect not to present the award in a given year.

Ready to Submit a Nomination?

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

Past Recipients

• 2022
• Midcontinental Chapter of the Medical Library Association
• 2021
• Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group
• 2020
• Pacific Northwest Chapter of MLA - Logo Pin Design Contest
• 2019
• North Atlantic Health Sciences Libraries
• 2018
• Mid-Atlantic Chapter
• 2017
• Midwest Chapter
• 2016
• Midcontinental Chapter
• 2015
• Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona
• 2014
• Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona
• 2013
• South Central Chapter
• 2012
• South Central Chapter
• 2011
• Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona
• 2010
• Southern Chapter
• 2009
• Pacific Northwest Chapter
• 2008
• New York-New Jersey Chapter
• 2007
• Upstate New York and Ontario
• 2006
• Midcontinental Chapter
• 2005
• Pacific Northwest Chapter
• 2004
• Pacific Northwest Chapter
• 2003
• New York-New Jersey Chapter
• 2002
• Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona
• 2001
• Southern Chapter
• 2000
• none awarded
• 1999
• North Atlantic Health Sciences Libraries
• 1998
• Southern Chapter
• 1997
• Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group
• 1996
• Southern Chapter