The evolution of our profession and association from 1998–2023: reflections from four Medical Library Association leaders

TL;DR

This paper reflects on the changes in the medical library profession and association over 25 years, offering insights and encouraging further exploration of their history.

Contribution

The paper provides a unique historical reflection from four leaders with extensive experience in the Medical Library Association.

Findings

The paper highlights changes in the profession and association over the last 25 years.

It encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences and engage with broader societal issues.

The authors aim to inspire further research and learning from the collective history of the association.

Abstract

On the occasion of the Medical Library Association's 125th Anniversary, four librarian leaders with a combined 105 years of engagement in MLA collaborated to reflect on the changes in our profession and our association. We draw on an examination of the last 25 years of the MLA Janet Doe Lectures, our own personal histories, and scholarship we produced for MLA publications and presentations. We offer this compilation as an invitation for readers to reflect on their experiences of changes within the profession, inspiration to engage in the issues around our place in society, and a source for additional exploration into researching and learning from our collective history.