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Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians

The MLA Vital Pathways Task Force is charged to review existing data and trends in the status of hospital librarians, collect data on the links between libraries and quality and financial outcomes, and develop an action plan for MLA to use this information to influence hospital decision-makers and key leaders in the health care field.

The following resources are a first step in helping hospital librarians communicate with other leaders in their institutions about the true value of librarians and library services.

To top of page Myths and Truths About Library Services

Developed by the Colorado Council of Medical Librarians (CCML) Advocacy Committee and MLA, 2006. CCML members include: Margaret Bandy, AHIP, Jenny Garcia, AHIP, Stephanie Weldon, AHIP, and Karen K. Wells.

To top of page American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Whitepaper HTML | PDF PDF download

To top of page Nursing and Allied Health Resources Section (NAHRS) 2007 Magnet Coordinator Survey

Developed by the NAHRS Task Force to Create Standards for Nursing Information Resources and Services in Health Care Settings and the NAHRS Research Committee.

To top of page Report a Change in Status of a Hospital Library

The Medical Library Association wants to track and respond to major changes that are occurring in hospital libraries. We ask hospital librarians to report both positive and negative changes to their libraries. You may also request that MLA contact the hospital administrator about the change. The information that is reported will be kept confidential; individual librarians and hospitals will not be identified and only aggregate data about changes in hospital libraries will be reported by MLA.

To top of page Additional Resources

  • National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), New England Region, Hospital Library Toolkits
    Online orientation and promotional toolkits; the promotional toolkit is designed to aid hospital librarians in promoting their services to hospital administrators and to the various communities within their organization.
  • MLA Health Information Literacy Project
    The Medical Library Association (MLA), through a $250,000 two-year contract from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is conducting research into hospital-based health care provider and administrators’ awareness and understanding of health information literacy and its value in support of patient care.
  • Brochure: The Hospital Librarian: Your Competitive Edge PDF download , developed by the Task Force on Vital Pathways for Hospital Librarians Steering Committee, 2008. Members include M. J. Tooey, AHIP, Chair; Jean P. Shipman, AHIP; Margaret M. Bandy, AHIP; Dixie A. Jones, AHIP; Joanne G. Marshall, AHIP, FMLA; Mary F. Protsman, AHIP; Katherine Stemmer-Frumento, AHIP; and Carla J. Funk, CAE

To top of page More Information

For further information or to help us improve these resources, please contact Carla Funk, funk@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094 x14.
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