The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a nonprofit educational organization with more than 3,400 health sciences information professional members. History Founded on May 2, 1898, by four librarians, including Marcia C. Noyes, and four physicians, the Association of Medical Librarians, as it was known until 1907, was founded “to encourage the improvement and increase of public medical libraries.” MLA is the second oldest special library association in the United States. The MLA Exchange was one of the founders’ earliest and most important projects, helping build medical libraries in the United States and many other countries by exchanging duplicate publications. The organization has subsequently developed a variety of programs to serve the needs of health information specialists. The National Library of Medicine holds a collection of the organization's archival material that ranges from 1898 to 2002. Membership MLA's members are more than 400 institutions and 3,000 individuals in the health sciences information field worldwide, though—as many other countries now have their own national health library organizations—it now primarily represents health sciences libraries and librarians in the United States. Membership is structured to accommodate varying needs and professional status of a diverse field of practitioners. Categories include Regular Membership, Institutional Membership, International Membership, Affiliate Membership, and Student Membership. Academy of Health Information Professionals The Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) is MLA's peer-reviewed professional development and career recognition program. Members of the academy are credentialed as health information professionals by demonstrating their academic preparation, professional experience and professional accomplishments. Credentialing differs from certification in that certification focuses on the attainment of minimum standards and measurable competencies, whereas credentialing recognizes the time and effort that is required for professional development. It also differs from licensure because licensure is a legal requirement for professionals in certain professions, such as medicine. History of the Academy MLA established its credentialing program in 1949 and the Academy of Health Information Professionals was established January 1, 1978. The program has been revised subsequently. The most recent action by MLA occurred in April 1995, when the MLA Board of Directors appointed members to the Task Force to Review the Academy of Health Information Professionals. In May 1996, the task force completed its report and recommendations to the MLA Board of Directors, who reviewed the academy in its current form and made recommendations for future goals. AHIP membership Levels There are five levels of membership in AHIP – Provisional, Member,