James L. Harner’s classic guide to reference works in English literary studies has been transformed into an online database that is fully searchable and that includes a lookup tool for locating reference works either online or in a library. We encourage members to talk to their librarians about ordering this new database. Librarians can order a thirty-day free trial. Individuals can order the print format at the MLA bookstore.

The online Literary Research Guide was recently awarded the 2009 PROSE Award for eProduct/Best in Humanities by the American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence.

The MLA Program Committee has designated Thursday, 6 January 2011, the first day of the Los Angeles convention, as a focal point for a series of panels and workshops on the theme The Academy in Hard Times. Support this special initiative by attending sessions or by proposing a session on the topic. Special session forms and program copy forms are now available online.

The Coalition on the Academic Workforce (CAW) has released an issue brief calling for improvements in the current staffing ratios at colleges and universities, increased support for faculty members serving in contingent positions, and inclusion of all faculty members in the work and life of their institutions. The issue brief and other resources for addressing deteriorating faculty working conditions and their effects are available at the CAW Web site.

Read Sidonie Smith’s column on reimagining the humanities dissertation, Rosemary G. Feal’s challenge to myths about the academic workforce, and election highlights in the Spring 2010 MLA Newsletter .

Resolutions approved by the MLA Delegate Assembly are subject to ratification by the MLA membership. Before the ratification vote is held, members have the opportunity to submit comments on the resolutions. The comments remain available at the MLA Web site during the balloting period. The 2009 Delegate Assembly approved one resolution. Members may comment on it through 14 April and may view posted comments through 1 June.

The next MLA Annual Convention will take place Thursday through Sunday, 6–9 January 2011, in Los Angeles. Click here to learn more.

An updated list of calls for papers for the 2011 convention is now available. View or search the calls for papers here.

The survey of language course enrollments for fall 2009 is now under way. Directors of institutional research, registrars, and deans of enrollment may submit data here.

To consult the 2006 survey, click here.

A collection of resources designed to help all members of the academic community advocate for the right working conditions for faculty members and the ideal learning environment for students. The kit includes two MLA reports published in December 2008: "Education in the Balance: A Report on the Academic Workforce in English" and "Demography of the Faculty: A Statistical Portrait of English and Foreign Languages."

The MLA Language Map and its Data Center provide information about more than 47,000,000 people in the United States who speak languages other than English at home.

The Data Center now includes information from the 2005 American Community Survey, allowing for comparison between 2005 and 2000 data for 30 languages at national, regional, and state levels.

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