Statement of Purpose

Complementary Medicine Special Interest Group

Medical Library Association

The purpose of this SIG will include but not be limited to the following:

  1. Generate discussion to define and establish the boundaries of this emerging field.

  2. Facilitate dialogue with colleagues working in older related fields such as Chiropractic, Osteopathic, Naturopathic, and Acupuncture traditions, especially those outside the continental United States.

  3. Develop networking and resource sharing between information professionals who support programs and activities in their institutions that fall within the category of Complementary medicine.

  4. Share information regarding relevant conferences, events and sources of funding for research.

  5. Host and support informative events at MLA Annual, Mid-winter, and regional meetings concerning Complementary Medicine.

  6. Review and prepare annotated bibliographies on resources in alternative and complementary medicine.

  7. Work with the National Institute of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine to extend MeSH indexing in these disciplines.

  8. Support ongoing activities to educate consumers on the use and abuse of non-allopathic healing arts.