Fact Sheet
Access to Audiovisual Materials

The National Library of Medicine's audiovisual collection consists of approximately 32,000 titles in a variety of formats including videocassettes (in U-matic and 1/2 in. VHS), audiocassettes, 16mm films, filmstrips and slides, x-rays, computer software, videodiscs and CD-ROMs, and over 3,000 audiovisuals of historical interest. Most audiovisuals are in core biomedical subjects and are in English.

Locating Audiovisual Titles

Audiovisual titles NLM's collection are available online through LOCATORplus, NLM's online catalog, at the following Web address: http://locatorplus.gov/.

Audiovisual Reference Assistance

Reference Section staff are available to provide assistance. Help in identifying and locating audiovisual titles in NLM's collection as well as consultative and referral services are offered. Address requests as follows, or call 1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656) or 301-594-5983:

For post-1969 programs:
Reference Section
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Internet: /contacts/contact.html
FAX: 301-402-1384

For pre-1970 programs:
History of Medicine Division
National Library of Medicine
Bethesda, MD 20894
Internet: hmdref@nlm.nih.gov
FAX: 301-402-0872

Audiovisual Loans

Most of the audiovisuals in NLM's collection are available for loan to any library in the United States. Requestors who cannot obtain medical audiovisuals locally and cannot come to view the materials may secure material through the interlibrary loan service by requesting items through their local libraries. Libraries should first send requests to local sources, and send requests directly to NLM only for those titles not held in their regions. (See Fact Sheets, Interlibrary Loan Policy, DOCLINE® and Loansome Doc™.)

The Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs) have established lending procedures for their Regions. Libraries unable to fill requests may forward them to NLM. (See Fact Sheet, National Network of Libraries of Medicine™.)

NLM does not provide stock images or media footage. A list of known companies that provide such materials on medical subjects is available upon request from NLM's Reference Section. As historical audiovisuals are often unique and not available in other repositories, off-site duplication of audiovisuals produced prior to 1970 may sometimes be arranged (subject to copyright and other restrictions).

Borrowing Procedures

Audiovisual citations should include the full title, institution or person responsible for the production, the call number, if available, and the type of medium of the program (e.g. videocassette, slides). Audiovisual programs are not available for loan outside of the U.S.

Requests will be accepted via the following methods:

1. DOCLINE, using the following Library Identification (LIBID) numbers:
   
   • 20209A-general collection
   • 20209B-historical collection
2. ALA or IFLA Interlibrary Loan Request Forms
3. Internet: ill@nlm.nih.gov
4. FAX: 301-496-2809

Inquiries regarding ILL policy, practice and information pertaining to specific requests may be sent to the ILL internet address or the ILL fax number.

Charges

Libraries are charged $9.00 for each filled interlibrary loan request.
NLM will pay postage for outgoing loans. The borrowing library will be responsible for postage for the return of the borrowed items and is responsible for replacement costs of the material if lost or damaged. Insurance is suggested when returning items.

Loan Period

Loan period is four weeks, not including transit time, and no renewals are granted. Libraries with overdue items may have their borrowing privileges suspended. NLM does not reserve play dates for audiovisuals.

For a complete list of NLM Fact Sheets contact:

FACT SHEETS
Office of Public Information
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Fax:(301) 496-4450
email: publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov
Internet URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/factsheets.html