A Look At The Scholarly Output Of The Medical Library Associsation Research Section

Abstract

The Research Section (RS) has guided the Medical Library Association (MLA) specifically, and the field of health sciences librarianship more generally, in the practice of seeking evidence to inform decision making and practice. The best evidence comes from welldesigned research projects. The Section has mentored many health sciences librarians in designing research projects, in conducting research according to the scientific method, and in publishing their results. MLA has adopted a Research Agenda and it relies on the Section to carry out that agenda. Further, the Research Section has played a role over the years in advancing the scholarship of the organization. For example, the MLA has embraced scholarly publishing by setting high standards in its own publication, the Journal of the Medical Library Association. Major articles in the journal are research based, require a structured or academic abstract, and generally consist of objectives, methods, findings, results and conclusions.