The Medical Library Association (MLA) will proudly celebrate October 2000 as its fourth annual National Medical Librarians Month (NMLM). MLA created the event to salute the more than 5,000 health sciences information professionals around the world and the contributions they have made to improving patient care.
By supplying the health care community and the public with the most accurate and current health information available, medical librarians have a major and direct impact on the care patients receive. The services medical librarians provide have been shown to reduce the number of diagnositic procedures, hospital admissions, and surgeries, resulting in a higher quality of health care and cost savings for hospitals and patients. The theme of this year's celebration-"On site, on line, on top of the latest information," -embodies the work and the expertise of these professionals.
"Advances in technology and availability of knowledge at the desktop make today the best time in history to be a health sciences librarian. Never before have health sciences librarians had the ability to acquire, organize and retrieve the medical evidence necessary for informed health care decisions so effectively and efficiently, " stated MLA President J. Michael Homan.
Medical librarians not only provide health information, but also serve their institutions as Website developers and managers, Internet navigators, and teachers of informatic skills. The NMLM celebration gives health sciences librarians the opportunity to promote their valuable contributions and their libraries' services in their own institutions. During the month of October, medical librarians across the country, will sponsor various promotions and special events to create a greater awareness of their services.
In honor of NMLM, MLA will once
again sponsor the Creative Promotion Award contest. The award
will be given to the MLA member or member institution who designs
the most creative event or promotional idea to celebrate NMLM.
The winner of the award will be highlighted in an MLA press release,
on MLANET, in MLA News, and at the MLA 2001 Swap and Shop exhibit,
as well as receive $100 applicable toward MLA publications, fees,
dues, or meetings.
For more information about NMLM, visit the NMLM page at www.mlanet.org/press/nml-month/index.html
or contact Tomi Gunn at the headquarters office at 312.419.9094
x11.
MLA is an educational organization of more than 1,100 institutions and 3,800 individual members in the health sciences information field. MLA members serve society by developing new health information delivery systems, fostering educational and research programs for health sciences information professionals, and encouraging an enhanced public awareness of health care issues.
For more information, please contact Mary Langman at 312.419.9094
ext. 27; mlaedo2@mlahq.org
Through his research, teaching, writing, and monetary contributions, internationally known pediatrician and allergist John P. McGovern, M.D has consistently demonstrated his support for the health sciences librarianship profession. McGovern, the founder of the world's largest private allergy clinic, the McGovern Allergy Clinic in Houston, TX, is also the creator of the Medical Library Association's (MLA) John P. McGovern Lectureship, one of the association's most prestigious programs.
Since its establishment in 1982, the John P. McGovern Lectureship has enabled MLA to further the professional development of its members by bringing speakers of international stature to speak at MLA's annual meetings. Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and author, Laurie Garrett, Kenneth Ludmerer, M.D., noted author and medical historian, and most recently Tom Ferguson, M.D., adjunct associate professor of health informatics, University of Texas Health Sciences Center-Houston, are just a few of the many speakers who have held the distinction of presenting the John P. McGovern Lecture.
Dr. McGovern's staunch support of MLA over the last forty years has led to his induction as an honorary member of the association. He has served on the editorial board of the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association (BMLA), and along with the John P. McGovern Lectureship has aided many other MLA programs. His donation to the MLA Centennial celebration in 1998 supported production of the MLA Commemorative Centennial Poster.
In addition to his support of medical librarians, Dr. McGovern is also committed to enhancing the nation's medical libraries. He has generously bestowed millions of dollars to local, regional, and national libraries including the University of Texas-Houston Academy of Medicine Library's rare book section, which was later named the John P. McGovern History of Medicine Collection.
MLA Executive Director, Carla Funk stated, "Dr. McGovern's many contributions to health sciences librarianship have proved to be invaluable. The Board of Directors, staff, and members of MLA sincerely appreciate his efforts which will have a lasting effect on the association as well as the profession."