| NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE FACT SHEET | | | | can use, NLM staff oversees the production of |
| The National Library of Medicine (NLM), in | | | | the free, quarterly NIH MedlinePlus magazine and |
| Bethesda, Maryland, is a part of the National | | | | its Spanish-language counterpart, NIH MedlinePlus |
| Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and | | | | Salud. ClinicalTrials.gov provides the public with |
| Human Services (HHS). Since its founding in 1836, | | | | comprehensive information about all types of |
| NLM has played a pivotal role in translating | | | | clinical research studies. |
| biomedical research into practice. It is the world's | | | | The site has over 71,000 protocol records |
| largest biomedical library and the developer of | | | | sponsored by the US government, the |
| electronic information services that deliver trillions | | | | pharmaceutical industry, and academic and |
| of bytes of data to millions of users every day. | | | | international organizations, in all 50 states and 165 |
| Scientists, health professionals, and the public in | | | | countries. Genetics Home Reference is NLM's Web |
| the US and around the globe search the Library's | | | | site for consumer-friendly health information on |
| online information resources more than one billion | | | | genetic conditions. This information resource |
| times each year. | | | | bridges consumer health information and scientific |
| The Library is open to all and has many services | | | | bioinformatics data, and it links to many existing |
| and resources--for scientists, health professionals, | | | | resources, both at NLM and at other reliable sites. |
| historians, and the general public. NLM has nearly | | | | Another information resource for the public is |
| 12 million books, journals, manuscripts, audiovisuals, | | | | NIHSeniorHealth.gov, which is maintained by the |
| and other forms of medical information on its | | | | Library in collaboration with the National Institute |
| shelves, making it the largest health-science library | | | | on Aging and other NIH institutes. |
| in the world. In today's increasingly digital world, | | | | The site features information on topics of interest |
| NLM carries out its mission of enabling biomedical | | | | to seniors, with special features like enlargeable |
| research, supporting health care and public health, | | | | type and a "talking" function that allows users to |
| and promoting healthy behavior by: | | | | listen as the text is read to them. NLM has |
| * Acquiring, organizing, and preserving the world's | | | | information for the public, too, on toxicology, |
| scholarly biomedical literature; | | | | environmental health, and HIV/AIDS. The |
| * Providing access to biomedical and health | | | | Household Products Database, provides |
| information across the country in partnership with | | | | easy-to-understand data in consumer-friendly |
| the 5,600-member National Network of Libraries | | | | language on the potential health effects of more |
| of Medicine (NN/LM®); | | | | than 2,000 ingredients contained in more than |
| * Serving as a leading global resource for building, | | | | 7,000 common household products. Tox |
| curating and providing sophisticated access to | | | | Town® points out many harmful substances |
| molecular biology and genomic information, | | | | and environmental hazards not only in a town but |
| including those from the Human Genome Project | | | | in a port, a big city, a farm, and the US-Mexico |
| and NIH Roadmap; | | | | border area. |
| * Creating high quality information services | | | | The Division has also created a series of |
| relevant to toxicology and environmental health, | | | | information portals targeted to special populations, |
| health services research, and public health; | | | | including Native Americans, Asian Americans, and |
| * Conducting research and development on | | | | those living in the Arctic. ToxMystery, an |
| biomedical communications systems, methods, | | | | interactive Web site for children ages 7-10, |
| technologies, and networks and information | | | | teaches users about potential chemical hazards in |
| dissemination and utilization among health | | | | a home. There is also a Spanish-language version |
| professionals, patients, and the general public; | | | | (click on "español") of this lively interface. |
| * Funding advanced biomedical informatics | | | | National Network of Libraries of Medicine: NLM's |
| research and serving as the primary supporter of | | | | key partner in making information available is the |
| pre- and post-doctoral research training in | | | | National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The |
| biomedical informatics at 18 US universities. | | | | network consists of 5,600 member institutions, |
| Scientific Information Services:The most | | | | including eight Regional Medical Libraries that |
| frequently consulted online scientific medical | | | | receive NLM support, 125 resource libraries |
| resource in the world is MEDLINE®/PubMed®, | | | | connected to medical schools, and more than |
| a publicly available database of over 18 million | | | | 5,000 libraries located primarily in hospitals and |
| journal citations from 1948 to the present. | | | | clinics. |
| Another important part of NLM's vast online | | | | Grant Programs:The Extramural Programs Division |
| holdings is PubMed Central® (PMC), a | | | | provides grants to support research in medical |
| Web-based repository of biomedical journal | | | | informatics, health information science and |
| literature providing free, unrestricted access to | | | | biotechnology information, as well as for research |
| more than 1.5 million full-text articles. The National | | | | training in these areas. Network planning and |
| Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) | | | | development grants support computer and |
| distributes GenBank®, a collection of all known | | | | communications systems in health institutions and |
| DNA sequences, and also provides access to the | | | | the study of new opportunities with high-speed |
| assembled Human Genome data. NCBI also has a | | | | computer networks in the health sciences. Health |
| prominent role in the important new | | | | science library resource grants assist in improving |
| Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) | | | | information access and services for health |
| project, an NIH-wide initiative directed at | | | | professionals. Research and publications in the |
| understanding the genetic factors underlying | | | | history of medicine and the life sciences are also |
| human disease. | | | | funded. Annual Statistical Profile of NLM: |
| In 2007, NCBI significantly expanded its breadth | | | | (September 30, 2008) |
| of public resources by developing the database of | | | | * Collection (book and nonbook) - 11,890,964 |
| Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP). These and | | | | * Items Cataloged - 21,507 |
| other NCBI resources are accessible at It has | | | | * Serial titles received - 20,901 |
| been 14 years since the Visible Human Project® | | | | * Articles indexed for MEDLINE - 671,904 |
| male and female datasets were released by | | | | * Circulation requests processed - 405,475 |
| NLM's Lister Hill Center. The datasets (some 50 | | | | * For interlibrary loan - 234,020 |
| gigabytes in all) are being applied in a wide range | | | | * For on-site users - 171,455 |
| of projects by nearly 2,500 licensees in 49 | | | | * Computerized searches (MEDLINE/PubMed) - |
| countries. The Specialized Information Services | | | | 775,504,557 |
| Division (SIS) offers a wide range of resources | | | | * Budget authority - $323,387,000 |
| relating to environmental health and toxicology | | | | * Staff - 699 Visitor Information: Address: 8600 |
| . Among the best known is TOXNET®, a | | | | Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 Phone |
| collection of databases on hazardous chemicals, | | | | (Toll-Free): 888.FIND.NLM (888.346.3656) Tours: |
| toxic releases and environmental health. SIS also | | | | Mon.-Fri. (except Federal holidays), 1:30-2:30 PM. |
| compiles information on HIV/AIDS, disaster | | | | Originate in NLM Visitor Center, off first floor |
| preparedness and other topics. Information | | | | lobby of Bldg. 38A, Lister Hill Center. |
| Services for the Public: The Library has extensive | | | | For group tours of NLM: 301.594.7526. For |
| information resources to serve the general public. | | | | exhibition tours: 301.594.1947. Reading Room |
| The Library's main portal for consumer health | | | | Hours: (Main Reading Room) Mon.-Fri., 8:30 AM-5:00 |
| information is MedlinePlus®, available in both | | | | PM; Sat., 8:30 AM-2:00 PM (except Federal holiday |
| English and Spanish (MedlinePlus en español). | | | | weekends). (History of Medicine Reading Room) |
| MedlinePlus has comprehensive, up-to-date, | | | | Mon.-Fri., 8:30 AM-5:00 PM (except Federal |
| easy-to-read information on nearly 800 health | | | | holidays). Holiday Hours: Complete List of NLM |
| topics. It also provides interactive health tutorials | | | | Fact Sheets: For more information about NLM |
| and a collection of surgery videos. MedlinePlus | | | | programs, contact the Office of Communications |
| features information on thousands of prescription | | | | and Public Liaison (mailing address above), .gov, |
| and over-the-counter medicines, as well as | | | | 301.496.6308, or consult the NLM Web site. |
| alternative treatments such as herbals. And, to | | | | Drop Us a Line: mail@sickcall. |
| provide the public with more health care news it | | | | |