(forwarded from MEDLIB-L)
Are you doing something transformative/relevant/socially useful? Why not consider writing it up and submitting it for the Relevant Issues Section program for MLA in Phoenix?

Our program is entitled "Transformation Begins with a Single Step....Or, If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem...."

We plan a contributed papers session that takes a "swap'n'shop" or "show'n'tell" approach to showcase how medical libraries and medical information professionals promote (or provide services around) relevant issues---a review of "best practices".

We invite contributed paper proposals describing front line or real world responses to contemporary problems of access, social justice, etc.

Examples of the kinds of papers we seek include (but are not limited to)

* Library support for Doctors Without Borders or similar groups
* Top Ten (or twenty) titles for a diversity collection
* Designing an exhibition of health issues related to disasters
* Building a website on cultural competency concerns
* Library services for Latino/a or First Peoples populations
* Developing specialized CHI services for disabled vets
* Health information outreach to refugee populations
* Library services for LGBTQ health professions students
* Library assistance for community agencies serving LGBTQ commuities
* Providing "just-in-time" information resources re breaking news
[Schiavo case; tsunami/hurricane/earthquake; war; flu; etc]
*Building a tolerance/diversity toolkit
*Strategies for LIS education for diversity/cultural competence
* Etc., etc., etc.

Please submit your MLA '06 paper abstracts by November 7. You could be selected to present a paper in Phoenix, May 19-24, during MLA '06. Submission guidelines, FAQs, and program themes are available on MLANET at
http://www.mlanet.org/am/am2006/index.html