MIDCONTINENTAL CHAPTER
MLA Strategic Priority 1: A new vision of our profession
MCMLA has been greatly occupied with a discussion of how to preserve librarians’ jobs, and to find a path into the future. Recognizing that many markets, industries, and professions are experiencing rapid change, and that the changing prospects of librarians are influenced in part by the rapid changes in medical knowledge, health care delivery, publishing and scholarship, the overriding theme of MCMLA this year is “Let’s be nimble.” At the MCMLA annual meeting in October 2012, there was impassioned discussion concerning the loss of libraries and librarians’ jobs, particularly in but not exclusive to hospitals. There was also a call to develop a “new paradigm” for medical librarianship. The following motion was made, then withdrawn with the understanding that new motions would be presented to the chapter membership as a whole.
“move that MCMLA solicit the support of other regional MLA and NNLM [National Network of Libraries of Medicine] chapters urging the Medical Library Association to join with the leadership of the NLM [National Library of Medicine], schools of library science, and other leaders of the profession : A. To review, redesign and promote the paradigm of medical librarianship. B. To design and implement a series of clinical trials to verify the value of medical librarianship in the hospital setting. C. To design and develop Best Practice Guidelines for medical librarians. D. To implement a required ongoing certification process for medical librarians.
After the annual meeting, the MCMLA Research Committee conducted a survey to determine the support of the chapter membership for each of the major proposals in this motion. The survey indicated general support for the need “to review, redesign and promote the paradigm of medical librarianship” and “to design and develop best practice guidelines for medical librarians.” Chapter membership most strongly supported the need “to design and implement a series of research trials to verify the value of medical librarianship” and did not support “a required ongoing certification process for medical librarians.”
An ad hoc committee “Championing for Librarians” was formed to develop new motions, resulting in the following motions presented to the MCMLA membership for electronic vote. All motions passed.
Motion 1. 58 For, 8 Against. Passed by 88%
MCMLA, within one year will begin work with state hospital accrediting bodies to adopt standards requiring direct access to a librarian.
Motion 2. 64 For, 2 Against. Passed by 97%
MCMLA will encourage and support publication by the membership in (non-library oriented) health professional publications, newsletters, journals, letters to the editor.
Motion 3. 54 For, 12 Against. Passed by 82%
MCMLA will request that the MLA Board charge the MLA Hospital Library Section to aggressively support the survival of their membership with a plan proposed to their membership within a year.
Motion 4. 59 For, 7 Against. Passed by 89%
MCMLA will request that MLA actively recruit members to contribute to their “Change in Status of a US Medical Library” website and to regularly publish the results of member input to the site.
Motion 5. 55 For, 11 Against. Passed by 83%
MCMLA will request that MLA begin to work within one year with national accrediting bodies to adopt standards requiring a librarian.
Motion 6. 57 For, 9 Against. Passed by 86%
MCMLA will request that MLA sponsor research that illustrates the hospital librarian’s contribution to the institution in meeting the requirements of meaningful use and of health care reform, and that the results of this research be submitted to non-library oriented health professional publications.
As a result, motions 3-6 were forwarded to the MLA Board, and the ad hoc committee submitted recommendations to the MCMLA Executive Committee concerning Motions 1 and 2.
The following motion was submitted to the MLA Board:
Date: February 11, 2013
Motion: The Midcontinental Medical Library Association moves that:
- The MLA Board charge the MLA Hospital Library Section to aggressively support the survival of their membership with a plan proposed to their membership within a year;
- MLA actively recruit members to contribute to their “Change in Status of a US Medical Library” website and to regularly publish the results of member input to the site;
- MLA begin work within one year with national accrediting bodies to adopt standards requiring direct access to a librarian; AND
- MLA sponsor research that illustrates the hospital librarian’s contribution to the institution in meeting the requirements of meaningful use and of health care reform, and that the results of this research be submitted to non-library oriented health professional publications.
Statement of Problem or Need:
Medical libraries across the country and hospital libraries in particular are experiencing closing, downsizing, reduced budgets & staff. MLA should be more proactive rather than reactive in these instances. Decisions are made at a higher level by administrators or board members who are not fully aware of the implications of their actions. We believe that preemptive action is the key and that the library community must join forces to be sure that our worth is presented to the decision makers before the decisions are made.
Librarians have a responsibility to demonstrate the value of their services to their institution. Accrediting bodies have an impact on how institutions regard librarians and their services. As individuals, librarians cannot affect change in criteria established by these bodies. It is becomes the responsibility of medical library organizations to work with organizations that have an impact on the value placed on librarians within hospitals, academic institutions, and other health organizations. The work that should be done is to secure the status of making information available by a qualified professional to assure effective patient care, research, and education.
Past MLA Action or Policy:
Past MLA policy has been to write a letter signed by the President of the organization that details the value of libraries to their parent organization. These letters are sent to the administration AFTER the decision has been made and rarely have any impact. The “Change in Status of a US Medical Library” website has been grossly underutilized in recent years. Many members were not aware of its existence and data has not been reported or used in a positive manner, leaving the organization unaware of the trends.
In the past, efforts have been made to speak with accrediting bodies like The Joint Commission, yet the statement requiring a library with a librarian was removed from their standards years ago, and it is time to revisit this effort.
MLA members do a tremendous amount of research that illustrates the value of librarians. This research has traditionally been published in library publications. The most recent was the article in the January, 2013 issue of JMLA regarding the value of library and information services in patient care. This article should have been submitted to the professional journals read by administrators, for maximum impact.
In addition, the ongoing discussion concerning the future direction of medical librarianship and how we might move gracefully into that new “vision” or “paradigm” is being conducted in person, on the MCMLA blog, in articles in the MCMLA Express, and beyond our chapter in discussions with MLA section leaders and others. We recognize that the concerns of MCMLA members are shared by our profession as a whole. These ongoing discussions dovetail with the chapter chair’s goal of librarian advocacy and collaboration. The chair continues to use chapter communication organs to inform chapter members (many of whom cannot afford or choose not to belong to MLA) about the many activities throughout MLA that already address the concerns raised by our members in the motions and survey. It should also be noted that the previous MCMLA Chair, Betsy Mueth, had addressed the future of libraries and librarians, and best practices, as her priorities for the chapter. Such big issues cannot be resolved quickly; the work continues.
MLA Strategic Priority 2: Expanded membership
MCMLA currently has 203active members: 17 students, 29 vendors, 156regular members, 1emeritus member. Memberships are managed through Wild Apricot software. The Membership Committee interviews all new members for the chapter newsletter, maintains contact with the three library schools in the chapter region, recognizes new members at the chapter annual meeting, and follows up with lapsed chapter members in each state. The Membership Committee launched a Mentorship database to link mentors and mentees. The MCMLA Chair’s objective to engage newer members and to encourage interaction with more experienced members was also fulfilled by recruiting a number of first-time participants in chapter committees.
A bylaws change to remove Distinguished Senior Member status in favor of the designation Emeritus member was approved at the 2012 MCMLA annual meeting.
New members, first time meeting attendees, committee chairs and members, and officers were recognized at the 2012 MCMLA annual meeting.
MLA Strategic Priority 3: Energy into action
Ad hoc Championing for Librarians committee recommended that the Library Advocacy and Governmental Relations committees work with state hospital accrediting bodies to adopt standards requiring direct access to a librarian, beginning with identifying those organizations, establishing a relationship with them, and learning how they establish their standards. The ad hoc committee recommended that the Research and Publications committees encourage and support publication by the membership in (non-library oriented) health professional publications, newsletters, journals, letters to the editor by developing an online list of health-care journals appropriate for library-oriented research and advocacy articles, and by budgeting for and developing a monetary prize for someone who publishes a library article outside of library journals.
Ad hoc committee formed to address concerns about falling membership of state and local medical library groups within the chapter’s region. This committee will explore potential relationships between such local groups and MCMLA, for their mutual support.
Current Officers:
Chair, Brenda Pfannenstiel
Immediate Past Chair, Elizabeth (Betsy) Mueth
Chair Elect, Darrel Willoughby
Recording Secretary, Susan Sanders
Chapter Council Representative, Melissa De Santis
Chapter Council Alternate, Dana Abbey
Executive Secretary, Karen Wiederaenders [Peggy Mullaly-Quijas, Executive Secretary of MCMLA for twelve years of exemplary service, resigned at the end of 2012.]
Parliamentarian, Nancy Woelfl
Archivist, Sue Fleming
Express Editor, Amanda Sprochi
Web Editor & MCMLA-L Discussion List Owner, Tracey Hughes [Amy Ritterskamp, website and listserv administrator, resigned after several years of exemplary service.]
Annual Meeting Advisor, Rebecca Graves
MLA Chapter Membership Liaison, Cindy Logan
MLA Chapter Credentialing Liaison, Jan Rice
2013 Meeting Planners, Jeanne Marie Le Ber and Emily Eresuma
A bylaws change to break tie votes for elected officers by re-balloting until one candidate receives a majority was approved at the 2012 MCMLA annual meeting. This new procedure was enacted months later when the election for three offices resulted in two tie votes. A second election was held, completing the election process.
Incoming officers September 2013:
Vice Chair/Chair Elect, Jackie Hittner
Recording Secretary, Kristen DeSanto
Representative to MLA Nominating Committee, Rebecca Graves
Committees and Reports:
Annual Meetings:2012 Annual Meeting in Kansas City, MO had 92 full conference attendees, 12 one-day attendees, 7 speakers, 6 instructors, and 26 vendors. Five CE courses were offered, and conference income exceeded expenses. Planning is underway for the 2013 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 14-17, themed “Information Unbound.” Planning is ongoing for a 2014 quintuple chapter meeting in Denver, CO, and for our first virtual annual meeting in 2015. Bylaws Committee: Tom Gensichen, Chair; Richard Rexroat, Jerry Carlson, Jackie Hittner
Ex officio: Nancy Woelfl, Melissa De Santis, Elizabeth Mueth
No new business since the passage of the two bylaws changes (reported earlier) at the 2012 MCMLA annual meeting.
Education Committee:Holly Henderson, Chair; Jim Honour, Amy Honisett, Lisa Traditi, Keri Swaggart, Ingrid Ponciano, Gwen Wilson, Monica Rogers, Tallie Casucci
The Education Committee works with the annual meeting committees to provide educational opportunities to the chapter membership.
Ex officio: Rebecca Graves, Marty Magee, Jan Rice
Governmental Relations Committee:Charlotte Manges, Chair; Euem Osmera, Margaret Hoogland
Honors and Awards Committee:Michlene Mankin, Chair; Jan Rice, Lynne Fox, Tracey Hughes
Bernice M. Hetzner Award awarded to Sue Sykes Berry of University of Missouri – Kansas City. MCMLA Outstanding Achievement Award awarded to Rebecca Graves of the University of Missouri – Columbia. 24 MCMLA Stars honored. Chapter awarded two luncheon awards for the MLA Chapter Council Sharing Roundtables held at the 2013 MLA annual meeting to Darrel Willoughby and Melissa DeSanto.
Library Advocacy Committee:Liz Burns, Chair; Teri Hartman, Valerie Meyer, Myoung Fry
Ex officio: Barb Jones
Advocacy committee members have begun identifying licensing agencies and their standards.
Membership Committee:Phyllis Whiteside, Chair; Susan Sykes Berry, Rhonda Altonen, John Bramble, Jeanne Burke, Charlene Droste, Pat Hamilton, Julie Stetson, Kristy Steigerwalt
Ex officio: Cindy Logan, Melissa De Santis, Karen Wiederanders
Interviewed new members for the MCMLA Express, working with a new mentoring database to connect mentors with mentees.
Nominating Committee:Jennifer Plaat, Chair; MerindaMcLure
Candidates for three open elected positions were recruited, and election was held, two votes were tied, so members were balloted again in accordance with our new bylaw. Officers were successfully elected on the second ballot.
Publications Committee:Amanda Sprochi, Chair; Darrell Schmick, Kristen DeSanto, Katie Dayani
Produced quarterly issues of the MCMLA Express.
Research Committee:Anne Heimann, Chair; Kate Anderson, Sharon Dennis, Lori Fitterling, Camillia Gentry, Timmi Johnson, Peggy Cruse, Abby Adamczyk, Assako Holyoke
The Research Committee coordinated the solicitation, selection, and presentation ofpapers and posters for the annual meeting. Members are encouraged to do research by offering a cash award for the best research poster, best research paper, and best original idea. In 2012, the following received awards:
- Award for best research paper – "Role of Libraries in Disaster Relief." Kalyani Ankem, Gwen Wilson, Jayne Johnson
- Award for best research poster – "Changing Our Communication Game Plan." Claire Hamasu, John Bramble, Marty Magee
- Award for most innovative poster/paper, first ever to be voted on by the membership - "Reverse Information Specialist in Context?" Jean Shipman, Joan Stoddart, Joan Gregory, Abby Adamczyk, Peter Jones, Shelli King
The Research Committee surveyed the membership regarding their level of interest in and support for proposed areas of activity, as described above.
The Research Committee submitted articles to each issue of the MCMLA Express.
Championing for Librarians ad hoc committee: Betsy Mueth, Claire Hamasu, Cam Gentry
Developed motions for vote by membership, conducted vote, forwarded motions to MLA and to MCMLA leadership, recommended further action to MCMLA Executive Committee as described above.
Ad hoc committee: John Bramble, Emily Eresuma
Charged with exploring options for mutually supportive relationships between MCMLA and local medical librarian groups that are barely sustainable; make recommendations to Executive Committee.
2013 Projected Budget: Income: $10,854 Expense: $10,810
MCMLA has a number of communication methods for reaching out to members:
MCMLA Express (published four times per year) . The editor for the newsletter is
Amanda Sprochi. The editor developed a new column, MCMLA Congratulates to
high light activities of the membership.
The MCMLA website ( includes Wild Apricot software for
online member registration, annual meeting registration, electronic voting, chapter information .
The MCMLA Listserv (hosted by the University of Kansas Medical Center)
Monthly Executive/Committee meetings via chapter’s Skype account or by web meeting software
The following motions were submitted to the MLA Board in February.
MOVED:
The Midcontinental Medical Library Association moves that:
- The MLA Board charge the MLA Hospital Library Section to aggressively support the survival of their membership with a plan proposed to their membership within a year;
- MLA actively recruit members to contribute to their “Change in Status of a US Medical Library” website and to regularly publish the results of member input to the site;
- MLA begin work within one year with national accrediting bodies to adopt standards requiring direct access to a librarian; AND
- MLA sponsor research that illustrates the hospital librarian’s contribution to the institution in meeting the requirements of meaningful use and of health care reform, and that the results of this research be submitted to non-library oriented health professional publications.
Submitted by Brenda Pfannenstiel
Chapter Chair