A West Virginia University Health Sciences Center Library employee has reached the top level of a renowned academy that recognizes academic preparation, professional experience and professional accomplishment.

Virginia Bender, education coordinator and information services librarian, has been named a distinguished member of the Medical Library Associations (MLA) Academy of Health Information Professionals.

Its very rewarding to me to be recognized by my peers for my professional development and career accomplishments,she said.It makes me value the support of my colleagues and the opportunities that are available to me in working in the health sciences library field.

The academy has three levels of membership: member, senior member and distinguished member. To reach the top tier, one must have spent at least 10 years as a medical librarian.

Achieving this status as a distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals is quite an accomplishment,said Susan Arnold, interim director of the Health Sciences Center Library.Virginia has always made an effort to become involved in professional activities that were related to her current job responsibilities.

Bender has served on numerous committees of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the MLA and has been Web site content committee chair for the organizations Collection Development Section. She has co-edited a newsletter column for the Nursing and Allied Health Resources Section of the MLA .

In addition, Bender has been a regular publisher of book reviews, and she recently co-authored an article on psychology-related resources that was published in the Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries.

Bender believes her recognition by the academy will further bolster the WVU Librariesreputation for keeping current with technology and striving to meet the information and educational needs of its users.

Were very excited about what were doing,she said.All of us at the Health Sciences Library make it a priority to work to accomplish the Universitys mission. We realize the important part we play for students, faculty and staff.

Prior to coming to WVU 12 years ago, Bender worked in public libraries in Ohio, Oklahoma and Montana. She received a bachelors degree in English and history and a masters in English from Slippery Rock University and a Master of Library Science degree from Kent State University.

Two other WVU faculty members belong to the academy: Jean Seibert, also a distinguished member, and Arnold, a senior member.