Conclusions

Southern Chapter’s overall retention rate is 89%, affirming the value librarians receive through membership. Data also revealed that student retention is 63%, which is below acceptable American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) guidelines so additional support may be needed. A search of the literature suggested guidelines to increase retention rates of student members.

Methods

Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association uses FileMaker for recording membership information. Several data sets illustrate the dynamics of the Chapter, longevity of members, and retention based on the introduction of the two-year free student membership.

Objective

This project analyzes 20 years of recorded membership data from the Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association (SC/MLA). Outcomes will illustrate trends in membership.

Results

From 1992 to 2012, the average membership for the Southern Chapter was 359 members. The highest membership occurred in 1996 with 402 members and the lowest membership occurred in 2006 with 285.

In 2008 the Chapter adopted a two-year free student membership, with an average of 20 student members per year since then. In its five year history, there have been 47 student members with 10 students joining the Chapter as a full member after the free membership expired.

Trends in data:• Highest membership: Florida• 62% increase in academic library

membership; 45% decrease in hospital library membership.

• AHIP membership has increased over 20 years.

Importance of Chapter Membership: a 20-year Data Analysis Sandra Bandy, MS, AHIP & Kimberly Mears, MLIS

20082009

2010

02468

10121416

3

1

6

14

9

16

Retention of Student Members

Joined after Free Student MembershipFree Student Members

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

330 323 323

390 402382

352 341 342 330350 352

328 327

285

332346 340 351

332 322

Southern Chapter/MLA Total Membership

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

20120

50

100

150

200

250

Members’ Library Affiliation

Academic Hospital Academic/HospitalOther Not identified

2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

5

10

15

20

25

30

14

2226

2118

Overall Student Membership

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

20120

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

MLA Membership Category of Southern Chapter Members

RegularInstituionalReg & InstFellowEmeritusStudentCorpNoOther

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

33%

45%

AHIP Membership

Other Statistics

• 22% of members have been active members since 1992

• 33 honorary members• In 2008, the SC/MLA adopted a free

2 year student membership• Membership rates dropped when

the annual meeting was hosted out of the region.

12%

24%

18%7%

3%

10%

16%

11%

Average State Membership

AL FL GA MSPR/Virgin Islands SC TN Other

Reference: Michigan Library Association.(2010) Engaging Members in our Preferred Future MLA Strategic Plan Highlights. Retrieved from http://www.mla.lib.mi.us/