MAC Messages Number 88:
July/August 2001

Carol G. Jenkins, AHIP, Takes Office as New MLA President

Carol G. Jenkins, AHIP, director, Health Sciences Library, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, has assumed the role of president of the Medical Library Association (MLA) for the 2001/2002 year. Jenkins began her presidency in May at the conclusion of MLA 2001 in Orlando, FL.

On her new role as president, Jenkins stated, "I am very excited about taking over the helm of a vital organization like MLA at this point in time. Librarians have never been more important to society than we are now, and we must show leadership in demonstrating what we have to offer. I am eager to get to work with the newly elected board members and the excellent board, committees, staff, and members who are committed to MLA's success."

"Investing in Our Future" is the theme for Jenkins' presidency, which emphasizes the value and impact of health sciences information professionals to society. Her three main priorities as president consist of recruiting more, talented individuals into the profession to address a growing workforce shortage, enhancing MLA's leadership role as a premier provider of health information education, and strengthening MLA's role as a technology leader.

Originally elected to the MLA Board of Directors for the 1989-1992 term, Jenkins has served the association in many capacities including chair of numerous juries and task forces and chair of the 1987 National Program Committee. While serving two, three-year terms as chair of the MLA/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) Joint Legislative Task Force, she advocated for the needs of health sciences libraries and librarians with Congress and national policymakers.

Prior to serving as the 2000-year president of AAHSL, Jenkins was named the 1999 Librarian of the Year by MLA's Mid-Atlantic Chapter. In recognition for her contributions to the profession, she was also inducted as a lifetime Fellow of MLA at MLA 2001.

Jenkins is not only one of the most valued leaders of the profession, she is also a respected speaker and widely published author. Jenkins authored the chapter " Human Resources Administration of Health Sciences Libraries" in the recently published administration volume of MLA's Current Practice in Health Sciences Librarianship series.

MLA looks forward to a highly successful and productive year while working under the guidance of President Carol Jenkins.

MLA is a nonprofit, educational organization of more than 1,000 institutions and 3,800 individual members in the health sciences information field. MLA members serve society by developing new health information delivery systems, fostering educational and research programs for health sciences information professionals, and encouraging an enhanced public awareness of health care issues.

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