Press Releases
MLA News Releases
This release is also available on MLANET at www.kumc.edu/MLA.
MLA ANNOUNCES NEW CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR 1996/97
The Medical Library Association is pleased to announce three additions to its distinguished list of corporate partners:
For the past eight years, MLAs corporate partner program has provided a forum for the leaders of those companies that provide products and services to health information professionals. This alliance has also provided funding for the research and development of information systems and services.
MLA Executive Director Carla J. Funk voiced her support of MLA's corporate partner program, "All of our members have benefited over the years from our relationship with the corporations who supply products and services to the medical and health information profession. Through MLA's corporate partner program, these companies have an opportunity to support MLA's educational efforts and future mission."
Businesses are invited to join MLAs corporate partner program with annual contributions of $500, $1,000, or $2,500.
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This release is also available on MLANET at www.kumc.edu/MLA.
MLA PUBLISHES NEW DOCKIT ON LIBRARY VISITOR POLICIES
The Medical Library Association (MLA) recently released DocKit #9: Policies for Visitors to Health Sciences Libraries, a new DocKit designed to provide a variety of examples of policies that health sciences librarians use regarding visitors to their libraries. For libraries without policy statements, this compilation may prove helpful when developing library visitor policy statements. Compiled by Terry Wiggins of the Eli M. Oboler Library at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, it may also be useful to those libraries interested in revising their current visitor policy statements.
By highlighting such issues as fees, time limitations, visitor privileges, categorization of clients, and equipment and material privileges, the DocKit explores some of the many different approaches taken toward library rules and policies.
DocKit #9: Policies for Visitors to Health Sciences Libraries also covers the various means through which libraries inform patrons about their policies including World Wide Web pages, brochures, and flyers.
The policies contained in the DocKit were taken from public and private institutional libraries throughout the United States. These institutions include a variety of schools from those devoted to a single program to those serving a full complement of health sciences schools and programs as part of a university. The hospital libraries are affiliated with both hospitals that meet patient care needs and those devoted to research and education.
The libraries are grouped by type and are arranged by National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) regions within each group.
DocKit #9: Policies for Visitors to Health Sciences Libraries can be ordered from MLA headquarters at a cost of $20.00 for members and $26.00 for nonmembers, plus shipping and handling. Call 312/419-9094 to place an order or visit the Catalog on MLANET at www.kumc.edu/MLA for more information about MLA products.
NEW AWARD ASSISTS HOSPITAL LIBRARIANS
A new award proposed by MLAs Hospital Libraries Section was approved by MLAs Board of Directors at their September 1996 meeting. The Hospital Libraries Section/MLA Professional Development Award, will be offered twice a year to librarians who have been employed in hospitals or similar clinical settings within the last year. The award provides librarians with financial support for educational or research activities, and award winners will receive a cash prize of $800. Recognizing that many librarians would like to be involved in scientific research, but cannot obtain financial support from their institutions, the Hospital Libraries Section specifically included support for research. The award preamble states:
An endowed professional development award has been established by the Hospital Libraries Section of MLA to encourage participation in professional programs that will aid librarians working in hospitals and other clinical care institutions in developing and acquiring the knowledge and skills delineated in Platform for Change (MLAs Educational Policy Statement) and Using Scientific Evidence to Improve Information Practice (MLAs research policy statement). The award may also be utilized to support reimbursement for expenses incurred in conducting scientific research such as professional assistance in survey research design, statistical analyses, etc.
MLA expects to present the first award in the Fall of 1997. The application deadline is July 15. An application form will be available on the Hospital Libraries Section Web site (www.njc.org/hls/hls.html) by March 1 or by contacting Beth Ruddy, Research and Professional Recognition Coordinator, Medical Library Association, Suite 300, Six North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60602-4805.
CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Information Rights Week
April 21-27, 1997
January, 1997, Ottawa - The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has announced that April 21 -27 will be Information Rights Week in Canada.
This is the fourth annual Information Rights Week. The Week is an opportunity to increase public awareness of information policy issues, such as the information highway, privacy and access to government information.
The Canadian Library Association believes that the convergence of computers and high-speed telecommunications networks provides an increased opportunity for public access to information and participation in the democratic processes of society. Conversely, access and participation may be reduced through the imposition of user fees and monopoly control.
CLA also believes that libraries and librarians can play a leadership role within the community by ensuring that the public understands the impact of these issues. To support access at the local level, CLA's Task Force on Information Policy has developed a kit which includes a poster, sample proclamation, brochure, bibliography and programming suggestions for use in libraries.
For further information, contact:
Brian Campbell
Convenor
CLA Task Force on Information Policy
Vancouver Public Library
350 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 6B1
Telephone: (604) 331-4070
Fax: (604) 331-4080
E-mail: briancam@vpl.vancouver.bc.ca
Karen Adams
Executive Director
Canadian Library Association
200 Elgin Street, Suite 602
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L5
Telephone: (613) 232-9625, ext.306
Fax: (613) 563-9895
E-mail: ai077@freenet.carleton.ca