Affirming our commitment to research: the Medical Library Association's research policy statement: the process and findings.
OBJECTIVE
Building on its 1995 research policy statement, the Medical Library Association (MLA) has issued a new research policy, The Research Imperative. This paper shares the background research that informed the new policy.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifty-one key informants representing various library types, functions, geographic locations, ages, and ethnicities. The grounded theory approach was used to analyze the resulting textual database. Additionally, to gather input from the membership as a whole, two open forums were held at MLA annual meetings.


RESULTS
Key informant data indicated that the policy should provide roles for MLA in leadership, advocacy, collaboration, services, education, publishing, and development of a research agenda. Evidence-based library and information practice was emphasized. Six themes emerged to center the new policy: creation of a research culture, challenges, domains of research, research skills set, roles of stakeholders, and measurement of progress.


CONCLUSIONS
Reflecting the interests and beliefs of the membership, The Research Imperative challenges MLA members to build a supportive culture that values and contributes to a research base that is recognized as an essential tool for future practice.
Grefsheim
Suzanne F
SF
Division of Library Services, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, MSC-1150, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. grefshes@nih.gov
Rankin
Jocelyn A
JA
Perry
Gerald J
GJ
McKibbon
K Ann
KA
D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D026683:Advisory Committees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007857:Leadership; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D007996:Library Associations; D007998:Library Science / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011050:Policy Making; D024382:Professional Role; D016730:Program Development; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D014481:United States