MAHLAP - Ten Years of Service to Medical and Health
Librarianship
by Elnora L. Conti
President, 1991
INTRODUCTION
The 80's and the 90's brought a lot of changes in the
practice of medical and health librarianship in the
Philippines. These changes are attributed to a number
of factors namely: computers, library networking, document
delivery, electronic and On-line databases, CD-ROM (Compact
Disc Read-0nly-Memory) technology, the multimedia (sights
and sounds), the Internet, and now the digital library.
These technologies are changing the delivery of health
services in the country. Medical and health professionals
through the libraries and information centers in the
academe or hospitals who have access to these information
technologies and use these technologies in their practice
resulted to the fast and efficient delivery of medical
and health services.
There is no doubt that the symbiotic relationship of
medical and health professionals and the information
handlers - the librarians, or information resource specialist
will lead to a high level of health delivery service.
Another big change was the passing of RA 6966 "An
Act Regulating the Practice of Librarianship and Prescribing
the Qualifications of Librarians." signed into
law by President Corazon Aquino in 1990 professionalized
librarianship in the country. Now that the librarians
are licensed, it has upgraded the status and practice
of librarianship. This act has a great impact on the
practice of librarianship now particularly that of requiring
attendance to continuing programs before you can renew
your license is already implemented.
MAHLAP: A DECADE OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
The health and medical information providers, the librarians
or information specialists are working hand in hand
with the medical professionals for decades now. The
recognition of the importance of information providers
led to the organization of the Medical and Health Library
Association of the Philippines (MAHLAP) in 1988 and
paved the way to the culling of medical and health professional
librarians in the country.The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
(PCHRD), an agency of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), played a vital role in the creation
of MAHLAP. The idea of organizing an association of
medical and health librarians was conceived at the seminar-workshop
on "Current Management Trends for Health Care Libraries,"
Cebu, 3-7 November 1986
sponsored by PCHRD and the British Council (BC). Mr.
Roy Tabor and Ms. Nickey Whitsed, both practicing medical
librarians from the United Kingdom served as tutors.
The workshop was participated in by twenty medical and
health librarians from the academe, government, and
private institutions.
During the open forum, it was suggested to organize
a national association of medical and health librarians
in the Philippines. The participants were unanimous
in their recommendation to initiate the creation of
a medical and health librarians association of the Philippines.
The organizational meeting of medical and health librarians
in Metro Manila was held at the Executive Lounge of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in
May 1987 attended by more than forty librarians from
medical schools, government and private institutions
with full support by Dr. Quintin Kintanar, Director
and Dr. Pacita Zara, Deputy Director, PCHRD. It was
in this meeting that the Medical and Health Library
Association of the Philippines (MAHLAP) was form.
Task Force was constituted whose task was to prepare
and draft the association'ss constitution and by-laws
composed of Ms. Rosvida R. Rosal, University Librarian,
UP Manila as chair, Ms. Lilita Decena (deceased), Population
Commission, Ms. Elnora L. Conti, Philippine Atomic Energy
Commission, Ms. Aurora S. Salvador (deceased), Far Eastern
University, Nicanor R. Reyes Memorial Foundation, Ms.
Natividad R. Caballero, Manila Central University, Felimon
D. Tanchoco Memorial Foundation, and Ms. Myrna Y. Uyengco,
US -Naval Research Medical Unit, US Embassy, as members.
Ms. Anicia Canseco served as the adviser.
The Task Force launched a contest for the MAHLAP logo.
The contest was chaired by Mrs.Rosvida R. Rosal and
the Board of judges was composed by Dr. Mariano B. Caparas,
Dr. Guillermo G. Damian, Mr. Norberto P. Hocson and
Dr. Oscar M. Tangco. The judging was held at the UP
College of Medicine library on May 25, 1987. The entry
of Mrs. Lydia Tobias of the Information, Education and
Communication Division, National Nutrition Council,
Makati, Metro Manila was chosen as the winning entry
which was adapted by MAHLAP as its official logo.
The logo looks like a person reading a book, indicating
the objectives of MAHLAP to encourage and promote the
collection, organization and dissemination of medical
health information and library service; encourage and
cultivate library cooperation, local and regional; and
to enhance and uphold the dignity and ethics of the
medical and health librarianship.
The seal consists of a circle and four triangles. The
green circle symbolize the objectives of the association,
going upward -- meaning the organization is searching
and looking for the good of the members and organization
itself. Color scheme represents truth and enlightenment:
white, medicine - green, and progress - aqua blue.
Membership
The membership of MAHLAP has grown from an initial of
forty members to one hundred eighty six at present.
The membership comes from all over the country composed
of medical and health librarians and information specialists
from academe, government and private institutions. Memberships
are of three types: regular, associate or institution.
A regular member is a person who has a college degree
in Library science and works or who has worked in a
medical or health related library, or one who is a candidate
for a library science degree and/or with at least 24
units of library science and works in a medical or health
related library.
An associate member is a person who is a degree holder
in any field other than library science and works in
a medical or health related library.
Honorary membership is granted by the association to
any individual who has made outstanding contribution
to the advancement of medical and health librarianship.
Institutional membership is granted to any firm, agency,
institution or organization maintaining medical and
health collection of at least 500 titles of books, and
other materials, and regularly subscribing to at least
15 titles of professional and scientific journals, maintaining
regular library hours and with a qualified librarian.
In the last four years, MAHLAP has granted three honorary
memberships to medical and health professionals who
have avidly supported MAHLAP. The following were awarded
honorary membership: Dr. Generoso Basa, PCHRD, Professor
Clarisa Dimalanta, CEU, and Dr. James Robey, WHO.
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