Regional Medical Library

The University of Illinois at Chicago, Library of the Health Sciences has been the Regional Medical Library for the Greater Midwest Region since 1979. Each RML is expected to provide health science practitioners, investigators, educators, and administrators with timely, convenient access to information through the continued maintenance and enhancement of networks of health science libraries, which form the NN/LM. In addition, the RML promotes awareness of and access to electronic health information for the public. Included are activities related to planning, promoting, and implementing services within the region; coordinating the activities of the region with other regions and within the national program; and serving as a contact point for the region in relation to other library and information networks or health organizations and professional associations.

GMR Staff

The staff of the GMR office coordinates health information services and projects in the region. If you are in need of health information assistance, the GMR staff will refer you to a health sciences library in your area. Each of the five program coordinators serves as a state contact librarian to one or more states within the region, providing a point of contact for network members and health organizations in the designated states. If you have a question about the services of the GMR, ask for your state contact librarian when you call or email the office.

Network Membership

Full Members are health science libraries and health information centers that are regularly staffed, have Internet access and health science collections, provide information services, and participate in DOCLINE. Affiliate Members are libraries, information centers, and resource centers that are called upon for health information by their users.

Resource Libraries

The Greater Midwest Region includes 32 Resource Libraries distributed through out the region. Resource Libraries must be full members and are selected on the basis of the quality and size of collections or uniqueness of materials in their collections which add significantly to the resources of the region, and the special expertise they contribute to improve regional or national programs in areas such as distance learning, advanced applications of technology to solve information delivery problems, and library and information research. Libraries that are selected sign the resource library letter of agreement (10 kb, rev: Aug 22, 2006).

Outreach Libraries

Sixteen resource libraries are designated as Outreach Libraries in the region for the 2006-2011 contract. These libraries assist the GMR with teaching classes on NLM resources, providing document delivery to unaffiliated health professionals, partnering with affiliate members of the network to conduct outreach projects, and exhibiting and/or presenting at community events or meetings of health professionals in their states to promote NLM resources and services. Libraries that are selected sign the outreach library letter of agreement (10 kb, rev: Aug 22, 2006).

Primary Access Libraries

The Greater Midwest Region includes approximately 970 Primary Access Libraries. These libraries may be full or affiliate members, and are located throughout the region, providing services to hospitals, professional organizations, businesses, universities, health agencies, and the public. The staffs at these libraries serve their local communities and institutions by providing convenient and speedy access to health information resources and a variety of related health information services.

Regional Advisory Council (RAC)

The Regional Advisory Council provides guidance in developing and evaluating programs and services that meet the needs of the region. The RAC is composed of representatives from key constituency groups within the region and includes the ten State Representatives. The remaining seats are filled by invitation from guidelines set by the contract.

State Representatives

One State Representative is selected by the Health Sciences Library Associations within each of the ten states in the region. They serve as the ambassadors for the RML and a point of contract for the GMR staff to facilitate communication with the state health sciences library groups. State Representatives also serve on the Regional Advisory Council.