The Medical Library Association is a professional organization of individuals and institutions in the field of health sciences librarianship. The purposes of the Association include: fostering the professional growth of its members; setting standards of professional practice; promoting quality services; and providing leadership in solving problems of health information delivery.

The activities of the Association fall into broad program areas that derive from its mission and are continuously reviewed by the Board in its planning role. All of the Association's many components - general membership, sections and chapters, committees-standing and ad hoc, special in terest groups, Board liaisons, Chapter and Section Councils, Board of Directors, Executive Director, and Headquarters program staff - contribute in some way to the total program activity.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP THE NEEDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP DEFINE ASSOCIATION GOALS	Members provide input on all issues and are elected or appointed to carry out a variety of specific functions.
SECTION AND CHAPTERS	Sections and Chapters provide input through the Chapter and Section Council to the Board.
COMMITTEES-STANDING AND AD HOC	Committees assist with a wide variety of program functions and carry out much of the business of the Association.
BOARD LIAISONS	Serve as a link between the Board, Headquarters Program Staff, and Committees.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS	The Board is the planning and policy-making body of the Association. Reviews program plans and activities in light of overall Association goals.
PRESIDENT	Directs the planning and policy-making for the Association.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	Chief Executive and operations officer for the Association.
MLA PROGRAM STAFF	In concert with Board Liaisons and Committees provide leadership and coordination for Association programs and activities within his/her program area, to carry out the program's goals and objectives.
MLA HEADQUARTERS	Coordinates the day-to-day activities of the Association to see that member's needs are met and Association goals are achieved.

Chair's Manual Table of Contents

Send comments or questions to Webmaster Sharon Giovenale at sharon.giovenale@uconn.edu

Last updated on: March 21, 2001.