Fact Sheet
Access to Audiovisual Materials

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The National Library of Medicine (NLM) audiovisual collection has over 60,000 programs in almost 40 formats. Programs cover biomedical subjects and are in English. Over 3,500 audiovisuals are of historical interest.

The Main Reading Room and the History of Medicine (HMD) Reading Room have equipment for viewing materials and programs.

• Please read written instructions for the equipment
• We allow no viewing of personal audiovisuals or computer programs on NLM equipment
• No more than two people may work together at a computer

Requesting Materials

Most of the audiovisuals and Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) programs are in the Library's closed stacks (General Collection). You can request the programs using the NLM online catalog, LocatorPlus at http://locatorplus.gov/.

• Search by title, subject, or author/producer
• Use Quick Limits to limit your search to "Audiovisuals and Computer Files"
• Use the Limits function to search by Medium -- videorecording, electronic resource, etc.
• Pick up General Collection materials at the Circulation Desk

Motion picture films, formats produced before 1970, filmstrips, images, and selected programs of historical interest, are in the HMD Reading Room. For more information on this collection, contact the HMD at hmdref@nlm.nih.gov.

Lending Policy

• Most audiovisuals are available for loan to any library in the United States
• Individuals can only borrow these materials through their local library
• For specific information on borrowing audiovisuals, see the Interlibrary Loan Fact Sheet at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/ill.html

Stock Images & Footage

• NLM does not provide stock images or media footage. A list of companies that do is at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/stockshot.html
• The Images from the History of Medicine database (IHM) gives access to nearly 60,000 images of photographs, artwork, and printed texts illustrating the social and historical aspects of medicine, at http://wwwihm.nlm.nih.gov/

Copying Materials

• We allow no duplication of audiovisual or computer programs from the NLM collection
• Arrange for duplication of historical audiovisuals produced before 1970 with the HMD through approved vendors (subject to copyright and other checks). Contact the HMD at hmdref@nlm.nih.gov for more information.