Markland wins 2009 Distinguished Librarian of the Year award Mary Markland, the librarian for the Southeast Clinical Campus of the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Fargo, N.D., won the 2009 Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award from the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association (MLA) at its annual conference on Oct. 5 in Columbus, Ohio. In granting the award, the chapter recognizes Markland’s outstanding professional contributions to health sciences librarianship and the chapter. Criteria used to evaluate Markland included leadership, advocacy, scholarship, research, publications, presentations, teaching, training, mentoring, outreach, professional activities, and meaningful and measurable service to the chapter. The purposes of the Midwest Chapter are to stimulate and foster interest in health sciences libraries and librarianship; increase the knowledge of its members by sponsoring educational programs and courses; encourage development of and cooperation among health sciences libraries; provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and the discussion of mutual problems and concerns; and acquaint persons interested in health sciences libraries and librarianship with the MLA. The Midwest Chapter includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Markland just finished a three-year commitment as president-elect, president and immediate past president of the Midwest Chapter. -- Denis F. MacLeod, Communications Coordinator, Center for Rural Health, dmacleod@medicine.nodak.edu, 777-3300