The conclusion of a yearlong centennial celebration brought some 2,600 health-sciences librarians to Chicago May 14–19 for the Medical Library Association conference, whose “Present Tense, Future Perfect?” theme encouraged attendees to cast their eyes forward.
Two of the plenary speakers offered prognostication tools for staying ahead of technology. Dale Burrus, author of Technotrends, recommended looking past short-term problems to the “visible future” of high-tech trends and how they might mitigate “the problems customers are going to have.” Coalition of Networked Information Executive Director Clifford Lynch asserted that librarians focus too much on how technology changes their work instead of how it affects the larger culture and, ultimately, the demands patrons make on libraries.
Incoming MLA President Freida O. Weise advised librarians to “leave old baggage behind and be practical risk-takers.” Members did just that, approving a dues increase. They also voiced so much displeasure in a proposal to become the Association of Health Information Professionals that Weise vowed to block the initiative throughout her term.
Posted May 24, 1999.