The evolution of our profession and association from 1998-2023: reflections from four Medical Library Association leaders

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2024.1948

Abstract

On the occasion of the Medical Library Association’s 125th Anniversary, four librarian leaders with a combined 105 years of engagement in MLA collaborated to reflect on the changes in our profession and our association. We draw on an examination of the last 25 years of the MLA Janet Doe Lectures, our own personal histories, and scholarship we produced for MLA publications and presentations. We offer this compilation as an invitation for readers to reflect on their experiences of changes within the profession, inspiration to engage in the issues around our place in society, and a source for additional exploration into researching and learning from our collective history.

Author Biographies

Kristine M. Alpi, AHIP, FMLA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY

Associate Dean of Libraries & Information Sciences

Julie M. Esparza, AHIP, FMLA, Louisiana State University Health at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA.

Professor/Associate Director, Comegys Endowed Professor of Medical Library Science,

Brenda F. Green, FMLA

Brenda F. Green, FMLA, Associate Professor, Retired, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Shannon D. Jones, AHIP, FMLA, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

Professor/Director of Libraries

References

Medical Library Association. Oral Histories Doe Janet (AHIP, FMLA)* [Internet] The Association; [cited 14 Feb 2024]. URL not available.

Roper FW. The Medical Library Association’s Professional Development Program: a look back at the way ahead. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006 Jan;94(1):8-18. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1324767. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Forsman RB. Life and death on the Coral Reef: an ecological perspective on scholarly publishing in the health sciences. J Med Libr Assoc. 2005 Jan;93(1):7-15. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC545114. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Sollenberger J. Looking inside ourselves: a culture of kindness. J Med Libr Assoc. 2018 Jul;106(3):283. DOI:10.5195/jmla.2018.478. (Available from: https://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/article/view/478/668. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Martin ER. Social justice and the medical librarian. J Med Libr Assoc. 2019 Jul;107(3): 291-303. Erratum in: J Med Libr Assoc. 2019 Oct;107(4):638. (Available from: https://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/712. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Kraft M. One Leg At A Time: Medical Librarians and Fake News. J Med Libr Assoc. 2024 Jan;112(1):1-4. (Available from: https://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/article/view/1858. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Plutchak TS. Breaking the barriers of time and space: the dawning of the great age of librarians. J Med Libr Assoc. 2012 Jan;100(1):10-9. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257492. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Fuller SS. Enabling, empowering, inspiring: research and mentorship through the years. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 2000 Jan;88(1):1-10. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC35192. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

McGowan JJ. Swimming with the sharks: perspectives on professional risk taking. J Med Libr Assoc. 2007 Jan;95(1):104-13. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773030. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Homan JM. Eyes on the prize: reflections on the impact of the evolving digital ecology on the librarian as expert intermediary and knowledge coach, 1969-2009. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Jan:98(1):49-56. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801971. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Funk, ME. Our words, our story: a textual analysis of articles published in the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association/Journal of the Medical Library Association from 1961-2010. J Med Libr Asoc. 2013 January;101(2):12-20. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543134. [cited 14 Feb 2024.])

Marshall, JG. Linking research to practice: the rise of evidence-based health sciences librarianship. J Med Libr Assoc 2014 Jan;102(1):14-21. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3878930. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Epstein, BA. In their own words: oral histories of medical library association past presidents. J Med Libr Assoc. 2016 Jan;104(1)3-14. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4722639. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Kronenfeld, M. 2022 Janet Doe Lecture, health sciences libraries in the emerging digital information era: charting the course. J Med Libr Assoc. 2023 Apr 21;111(1-2):555-565. (Available from: https://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/article/view/1626. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Barrett F. An analysis of reference services usage at a regional academic health sciences library. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Oct;98(4):308-11. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2947131. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Schulte SJ. Eliminating traditional reference services in an academic health sciences library: a case study. J Med Libr Assoc. 2011 Oct;99(4):273-9. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193369. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Horne AS, Ragon B, Wilson DT. An innovative use of instant messaging technology to support a library's single-service point. Med Ref Serv Q. 2012;31(2):127-39. (Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02763869.2012.670557. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Tennant MR, Auten B, Botero CE, Butson LC, Edwards ME, Garcia-Milian R, Lyon JA, Norton HF. Changing the face of reference: adapting biomedical and health information services for the classroom, clinic, and beyond. Med Ref Serv Q. 2012;31(3):280-301. (Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02763869.2012.698172. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Marshall JG, Sollenberger J, Easterby-Gannett S, Morgan LK, Klem ML, Cavanaugh SK, Oliver KB, Thompson CA, Romanosky N, Hunter S. The value of library and information services in patient care: results of a multisite study. J Med Libr Assoc. 2013 Jan;101(1):38-46. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543128. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Hudson H. The Medical Library: A Hospital’s Most Underappreciated Asset. [Internet]. Middleton, MA: Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare; 2023 Sep 06. [cited 12 Jan 2024] https://www.psqh.com/analysis/the-medical-library-a-hospitals-most-underappreciated-asset.

Clifton VL, Flathers KM, Brigham TJ. COVID-19 - Background and Health Sciences Library Response during the First Months of the Pandemic. Med Ref Serv Q. 2021 Jan-Mar;40(1):1-10. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2021.1873611. (Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02763869.2021.1873611. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Sullo E, Brody S. Providing Information to Support COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Academic Medical Librarians' Roles in Creating an Intelligence Report. Med Ref Serv Q. 2021 Jan-Mar;40(1):23-34. (Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02763869.2021.1873613. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Levins H. Hospital Consolidation Continues to Boost Costs, Narrow Access, and Impact Care Quality [Internet]. Philadelphia, PA: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. 19 Jan 2023 [cited 12 Jan 2024]. https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/hospital-consolidation-continues-to-boost-costs-narrow-access-and-impact-care-quality.

Harrow A, Marks LA, Schneider D, Lyubechansky A, Aaronson E, Kysh L, Harrington M. Hospital library closures and consolidations: a case series. J Med Libr Assoc. 2019 Apr;107(2):129-136. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2019.520. Epub 2019 Apr 1. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6466508. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Spencer A, Mamo E, Billman BL. Benchmarking study of hospital libraries. Hypothesis. 2021 Feb 25;31(1). https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/hypothesis/article/view/23805.

Gerber AL. The Librarian's Contribution to Continuing Medical Education. Med Ref Serv Q. 2017 Oct-Dec;36(4):408-414. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2017.1369291. (Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02763869.2017.1369291. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Perrier L, Farrell A, Ayala AP, Lightfoot D, Kenny T, Aaronson E, Allee N, Brigham T, Connor E, Constantinescu T, Muellenbach J, Epstein HA, Weiss A. Effects of librarian-provided services in healthcare settings: a systematic review. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2014 Nov-Dec;21(6):1118-24. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4215058. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Delawska-Elliott B, Belcinski D. Hospital Libraries Matter [Internet]. Musings from the Mezzanine. 2017 Aug 01. Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine; [cited 12 Jan 2024]. https://nlmdirector.nlm.nih.gov/2017/08/01/hospital-libraries-matter.

UC Davis Library. Closure of Carlson Health Sciences Library as a Library User and Study Space [Internet]. Davis, CA: UC Davis; [cited 12 Jan 2024]. https://library.ucdavis.edu/chsl-faq.

Camacho G. Making Space for Everyone: Grunigen Medical Library Renovations [Internet]. Orange, CA: University of California – Irving, CA; 2022 Oct 27 [cited 12 Jan 2024]. https://news.lib.uci.edu/libraries-news/making-space-everyone-grunigen-medical-library-renovations.

Ludwig L. Health sciences libraries building survey, 1999-2009. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Apr;98(2):105-34. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2859257. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Thibodeau PL. When the library is located in prime real estate: a case study on the loss of space from the Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Jan;98(1):25-8. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801964. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Haynes C. Integrating with users is one thing, but living with them? A case study on loss of space from the Medical Center Library, University of California, San Diego. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Jan;98(1):32-5. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801983. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Persily GL, Butter KA. Reinvisioning and redesigning "a library for the fifteenth through twenty-first centuries": a case study on loss of space from the Library and Center for Knowledge Management, University of California, San Francisco. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Jan;98(1):44-8. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801976. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Tooey MJ. Renovated, repurposed, and still "one sweet library": a case study on loss of space from the Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland, Baltimore. J Med Libr Assoc. 2010 Jan;98(1):40-3. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801984 [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Oliveira SM. Trends in Academic Library Space From book boxes to learning commons. IATUL Annual Conference Proceedings. 1-23 Jan 2017 [cited 12 Jan 2024]. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=134143857&site=ehost-live.

Budde R. Medical Library Makeover [Internet]. Springfield, IL: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; Aspects. 38(2): [cited 12 Jan 2024]. <https://www.siumed.edu/medical-library-makeover.html>.

Cooper ID, Crum JA. New activities and changing roles of health sciences librarians: a systematic review, 1990-2012. J Med Libr Assoc. 2013 Oct;101(4):268-77. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801976. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Crum JA, Cooper ID. Emerging roles for biomedical librarians: a survey of current practice, challenges, and changes. J Med Libr Assoc. 2013 Oct;101(4):278-86. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801976. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Ma J, Stahl L, Knotts E. Emerging roles of health information professionals for library and information science curriculum development: a scoping review. J Med Libr Assoc. 2018 Oct;106(4):432-444. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3794683. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Milewska A, Wiśniewska N, Cimoszko P, Rusakow J. A survey of medical researchers indicates poor awareness of research data management processes and a role for data librarians. Health Info Libr J. 2022 Jun;39(2):132-141. (Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hir.12403. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

LaPolla FWZ, Bakker CJ, Exner N, Montnech T, Surkis A, Ye H. Rigor and reproducibility instruction in academic medical libraries. J Med Libr Assoc. 2022 Jul 1;110(3):281-293. Erratum in: J Med Libr Assoc. 2022 Oct 1;110(4):E34. Erratum in: J Med Libr Assoc. 2023 Oct 2;111(4):E62. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC978258. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

McGowan J, Sampson M. Systematic reviews need systematic searchers. J Med Libr Assoc. 2005 Jan;93(1):74-80. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC545125. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Rethlefsen ML, Murad MH, Livingston EH. Engaging medical librarians to improve the quality of review articles. JAMA. 2014 Sep 10;312(10):999-1000. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.9263. (Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/1902238. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Rethlefsen ML, Kirtley S, Waffenschmidt S, Ayala AP, Moher D, Page MJ, Koffel JB; PRISMA-S Group. PRISMA-S: an extension to the PRISMA statement for reporting literature searches in systematic reviews. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021 Apr 1;109(2):174-200. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2021.962. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8270366. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Laynor G, Tagge N, Magro J, Armond M, Rau RA, Vardell E. Mapping the pathways to health sciences librarianship: reflections and future implications from an immersion session. J Med Libr Assoc. 2023 Oct 2;111(4):802-810. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2023.1645. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10621722. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Brandon AN, Hill DR. Selected list of books and journals for the small medical library. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1997;85(2):111-135. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC226239. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Allen MP, Jacobs SK, Levy JR. Mapping the literature of nursing: 1996-2000. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006;94(2):206-220. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1435835. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Alpi KM. Mapping the literature of emergency nursing. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006 Apr;94(2 Suppl):E107-13. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1463033. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Alpi KM, Adams MG. Mapping the literature of public health and community nursing. J Med Libr Assoc. 2007 Jan;95(1):e6-9. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773026. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Osterbur DL, Alpi K, Canevari C, Corley PM, Devare M, Gaedeke N, Jacobs DK, Kirlew P, Ohles JA, Vaughan KT, Wang L, Wu Y, Geer RC. Vignettes: Diverse library staff offering diverse bioinformatics services. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006 Jul;94(3):306, E188-91. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525318. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Alpi KM. We are all public health. J Med Libr Assoc. 2007 Jul;95(3):229-31. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1924947. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Alpi KM, Nicholson J. Getting a second degree...should I or shouldn’t I: Two more case studies. MLA News, November/December 2008;411:1,14-15.

Alpi KM. Exploring the state of veterinary informatics. In: Positioning the Profession: the Tenth International Congress on Medical Librarianship, Brisbane Australia, (1-15). September 3, 2009. [peer reviewed] http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:179865.

Alpi KM, Stafford E, Swift EM, Danehower S, Paxson HI, Davidson G. Characterization of Veterinary Pharmacy and Pharmacology Literature and its Availability to Pharmacy Education. Am J Pharm Educ. 2020 Oct;84(10):ajpe7314. (Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7596615. [cited 14 Feb 2024].)

Alpi KM, Del Biondo K, Rethlefsen ML. Evolving from Public Health Libraries as a Place to Focus on Public Health Librarian Expertise. Preprint. doi:10.31219/osf.io/3cxkw. JMLA accepted for publication.

Medical Library Association. Diversity, equity, and inclusion [Internet]. The Association; [cited 23 February 2024]. https://www.mlanet.org/about-mla/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/.

Pionke JJ. Medical Library Association Diversity and Inclusion Task Force 2019 survey report. J Med Libr Assoc. 2020 Jul;108(3): 503–12. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2020.948.

Lipscomb CE. Race and librarianship: part I. J Med Libr Assoc. 2004 Jul;92(3):299–301. PMID: 15243634; PMCID: PMC442167. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442167/.

Levine MH, Nesbit KW. Arlee May, 1940-1996. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1997 Jan;85(1):73–4. PMCID: PMC226232. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PMC226232.

Shedlock, J. Oral Histories Cruzat, Gwendolyn S (PhD, AHIP, FMLA) [Internet]. The Association; [cited 23 February 2024]. URL not available.

Williams, J, Jones, SD. Beverly Murphy: A pioneer in medical librarianship [Internet]. Libraries: Culture, History, and Society: Black Women Librarians; 2022 [cited 24 February 2024]. https://lhrt.news/honoring-black-women-librarians/.

Downloads

Published

2024-07-29

Issue

Section

Special Paper