The Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) seeks applicants for editorial board members for 2021-2023. In line with our commitment to equity, we wish to use these positions to bring a greater diversity of perspectives and life experiences to our team. Individuals who identify as being from an underrepresented group are strongly encouraged to apply.
The JMLA editorial board consists of individuals with diverse personal identities, professional roles, workplaces, and geographies who advise on journal processes and policies, act as journal ambassadors, and help keep the journal at the forefront of scholarly publishing. They are health sciences librarians as well as individuals in positions adjacent to health sciences librarianship, such as other types of information professionals, healthcare workers, educators, and publishers. Editorial board members serve 3-year volunteer terms and include both Medical Library Association (MLA) members and non-members, with MLA members having the option of earning Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) points.
JMLA editorial board members attend virtual editorial board meetings and communicate through the journal’s internal email listserv. They represent the journal in professional spaces and solicit manuscript submissions from potential authors. They can opt to join workgroups dedicated to specific initiatives (e.g., developing new policies or programs), to serve as liaisons to MLA domain hubs, and to act as mentors to editorial interns or new peer reviewers or authors. Editorial board members are expected to stay up-to-date with new developments in scholarly publishing and to actively participate in editorial board conversations and training opportunities.
We are seeking individuals with experience in scholarly research, writing, and/or publishing as well as individuals who may not have first-hand publishing experience but who are curious about scholarly communication and bring a unique perspective to JMLA’s processes, policies, and programs. If you have questions or recommendations of colleagues who would be particularly well-suited to serve as editorial board members, please contact Katherine Akers, JMLA editor-in-chief, at jmla@journals.pitt.edu. To apply for editorial board membership, please complete this form by May 31, 2021. Review of applications and selection of editorial board members will be performed by a jury composed of current JMLA editorial board members and members of the JMLA equity workgroup.
