SC/MLA Research Committee Manual


SC/MLA Research Committee Goals

Directed by the SC/MLA strategic plan, the Research Committee aims to stimulate and facilitate research activities within Southern Chapter membership through these specific goals:

identification, proposal development, and implementation of collaborative, chapter-wide research projects among SC/MLA members;
recognition, encouragement, and support for chapter members engaged in ongoing research projects;
communication in Southern Expressions, and on the SOCHAP-L discussion list of the results of research by SC/MLA members; and
promotion of education in research methodologies at the annual chapter meeting.

To accomplish their goals, members of the Research Committee:

investigate and support chapter wide research projects, such as those which led to these publications:
Dee CR, Rankin JA, Burns. Using scientific evidence to improve hospital library services: Southern Chapter/Medical Library Association journal usage study. Bull Med Libr Assoc 1998 Jul;86(3):301-6 and Paden SL, Batson AL, Wallace RL. Web-based Loansome Doc, librarians, and end users: results from a survey of the Southeast Region. Bull Med Libr Assoc 2001 Jul;89(3):263-71
seek applicants for a chapter Research Project Grant;
identify and award the best research papers and poster presentations at the SC/MLA annual meeting;
encourage individual researchers by spotlighting research projects of Southern Chapter members in the "Research Spotlight" column in Southern Expressions;
maintain a list of chapter members' research interests and those willing to serve as research mentors;
participate in SC/MLA strategic plan activities.