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In their own words: oral histories of Medical Library Association past presidents.

Objective: The purpose of this lecture was to review the development of the Medical Library Association (MLA) oral history program and to highlight the oral histories of thirty-seven past MLA presidents to identify themes of common interest and relevance to current MLA members. Methods: The lecture...

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Published in:Journal of the Medical Library Association Vol. 104; no. 1; pp. 3 - 15
Main Author: Epstein, Barbara A.
Format: Journal Article
Published: University of Pittsburgh, University Library System Jan2016
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jan2016
      vid: 104
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      pub: University of Pittsburgh, University Library System
      place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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        atl: In their own words: oral histories of Medical Library Association past presidents.
      aug:
        au: Epstein, Barbara A.
        affil: Director, Middle Atlantic Region, National Network of Libraries of Medicine
      sug:
        subj:
          Medical Library Association
          Oral History
          Administrative Personnel
          Health Sciences Librarians
          Health Sciences Librarianship
          Career Planning and Development
          Salaries and Fringe Benefits
      ab: Objective: The purpose of this lecture was to review the development of the Medical Library Association (MLA) oral history program and to highlight the oral histories of thirty-seven past MLA presidents to identify themes of common interest and relevance to current MLA members. Methods: The lecture focused on three main topics discussed in many of the interviews: the presidents' backgrounds and how they came to be medical librarians, how MLA developed as an organization as a reflection of the growth of medical libraries, and the presidents' predictions and advice about the future. Results: MLA presidents came from varied backgrounds and locales. As MLA grew from a small, intimate group into a multifaceted organization with a professional management staff, the workload of the presidents changed in scope. One recurring theme in the presidential oral histories was the power differential between men and women in the organization and the profession. MLA presidents reminisced about notable annual meetings and praised the positive impact of the organization on members' professional and personal lives. Conclusions: The lecture concludes with recommendations to the organization to increase the availability of the oral histories by providing online access for future interviews and to pay careful attention to their long-term preservation.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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