The Medical Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce that Felicia A. Smith, information specialist, Health Learning Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, was recently named the 2001 MLA/National Library of Medicine (NLM) Spectrum Scholar. Because of their commitment to diversity and to increasing the number of minorities in health sciences librarianship, MLA and NLM joined together last year to sponsor a scholar in the American Library Association's (ALA) Spectrum Initiative Program. MLA and NLM will make a total donation of $5,000 annually for the next ten years to support students in their goal to become health sciences information professionals.

Smith, who is currently working towards a master of library and information science degree at Dominican University in River Forest, IL, more than met the criteria for the scholarship and was one of the highest ranking students among the fifty-two 2001 Spectrum scholars, chosen by the ALA Spectrum Jury.

Beside being a busy student and professional, Smith also finds time to participate in professional activities. A member of three national library associations, ALA, MLA, and the Special Libraries Association (SLA), as well as the Illinois Library Association (ILA), she has worked as an intern for the ALA Council Committee on Minority Concerns and Cultural Diversity and as a member of the ILA Cultural and Racial Diversity Committee, and has published an article in MLA News.

In addition to being named the 2001 MLA/NLM Spectrum Scholar, Smith was also this year's recipient of the MLA Scholarship for Minority Students which is given to a minority student entering an ALA-accredited library school having at least one-half of the requirements of the program to finish in the year following the awarding of the scholarship.

"MLA is pleased to sponsor, in conjunction with NLM, an ALA Spectrum scholar in health sciences librarianship. Attracting people from diverse backgrounds into our library specialty is essential to the future of the profession, " stated MLA Executive Director Carla Funk.

MLA congratulates Smith on receiving this honor and looks forward to working with her as she embarks on a career in the health sciences information profession.