This report covers the period of May 1998 through March 10, 1999.

Goal 1: Professional Development
d: develops and promulgates standards and educational policies for health sciences library and information professionals, such as Platform for Change.

The Council's Standards Committee has collected up-to-date information about standards activities within the Sections. The Committee has also contacted the Public Services Section about their proposed standards and has requested copies of the existing standards from MLA headquarters.

Goal 2: Advocacy
d. recruits qualified individuals into the profession.

The Council's Communications Committee has identified potential membership recruitment activities for Sections. These activities could help MLA recruit new members. Specific recommendations were presented to the Council for discussion and, if approved will be submitted to the MLA Membership Committee. The proposal was submitted to the MLA Board as an informational item.

Goal 3: Organization
d: develops, evaluates, and enhances programs and services responsive to members' needs.

The Council Chair worked with members of the MLA Bylaws Committee and Headquarters staff to draft new bylaws language that reflects the proposed changes in the Council's structure. Section Council members approved guidelines for filling vacancies in the Council offices under the new structure. The MLA Board of Directors reviewed and approved the guidelines, which will take effect when the bylaws revisions are approved by the membership.

The Council reviewed a motion from the Public Health/Health Administration Libraries Section to change its name to the Public Health/Health Administration Section.

The Council distributed information on forming SIGs and Sections to several groups interested in establishing a new unit including a corporate information section or SIG, an Internet SIG, and a Voyager SIG.

The Council and the MLA Board of Directors approved new procedures for ensuring section compliance. Handouts describing the new procedures were available on the Council's Web site and became part of the online manuals. MLA Headquarters staff will conduct the formal audit this spring.

The revised Section Council and Section Chairs' procedure manuals were distributed, and the Web versions were updated. The Section/SIG Review Committee is reviewing and editing a draft version of a new manual for SIG conveners.

The section programming for the 1999 Annual Meeting has been identified and submitted for the preliminary program by the 1999 NPC Liaison for Section Council. The liaison for NPC 2000 has coordinated the schedule of business meetings.

The Council's Centennial Committee has contacted sections about their histories and the deadline for submitting them to MLA. Nineteen sections submitted histories.

Goal 3: Organization
e: fosters effective communication within the association and with external constituencies.

Communication with the Council members and sections was maintained through the MLA listservs and the Council's mailings sent out in August and March. New documents and deadline notices were added to the Council Web site on a regular basis.

Goal 6: Information Technology
a. uses technology to improve communication among members and to enhance remote access to association services and programs.

A new design and structure was implemented for the Council's Web site. The Communications Committee continues to review the page and offer suggestions for further revisions and additions.

A new listserv was established for SIG conveners. This listserv will be used for communication among the SIGs, and for communications with other MLA units.

This report is informational and requires no action by the Board of Directors.

Patricia L. Thibodeau
Section Council Chair
March 10, 1999

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Last updated on: December 5, 2001.