Long Range Plan 2000-2005 | |
The advanced information products and services of the National Library of Medicine are built on the foundation stone of its unparalleled collections. They are broad (encompassing all the health sciences) and deep (from the 11th century to the present). The Library today is seen as a principal source of biomedical information and the NLM’s many high-technology programs are infused with the confidence and competence resulting from a century and a half of experience in filling the information needs of health professionals. The Library continues to place primary emphasis on its role as acquirer, organizer, and disseminator of health-related information.
OBJECTIVE 1.1 -
ACQUIRE,
ORGANIZE, AND PRESERVE BIOMEDICAL INFORMATION
FINDINGS
The NLM continues to accord the highest priority to maintaining the integrity of its collections and serving as the library of last resort for the worldwide biomedical literature. Over the past decade, the Library assessed and enhanced its collection and bibliographic databases in molecular biology and genetics and in health services research and health technology assessment in support of major new programs in these areas. The Library has also been placing increasing emphasis on new forms of information (for example, electronic journals and computer software). The content of NLM databases has been enriched with additional types of material such as conference proceedings, clinical practice guidelines, consensus development reports, newsletters, and book sections. NLM has used advanced technology to enhance access to unique historical materials in Profiles in Science, Images from the History of Medicine, and online historical exhibitions . Under NLM’s system reinvention effort, a commercial integrated library system has replaced an assortment of custom-built, mainframe-based processes that control acquisitions, serials, cataloging, collection management, circulation, preservation, and binding. A continually evolving online indexing system streamlines the handling of the biomedical literature for MEDLINE, from the time a journal issue arrives at the Library until it is entered into the database. More than two-thirds of MEDLINE citation and abstract data is now either received in electronic format directly from publishers or rapidly scanned into the database. NLM continues to participate actively in the evolution of cataloging, bibliographic citation, and preservation standards and practices. The Library’s SGML formats required for publisher submission of MEDLINE citation and abstract data have had a standardizing effect on the structure of electronic biomedical journals.
In the area of preservation, the NLM led a successful campaign to increase dramatically the amount of medical journal publishing done on “permanent” (non-acid) paper. The Library has also made substantial progress on microfilming brittle monographs and serials; adopted a modern disaster prevention and recovery program; and established an in-house book repair laboratory. Ensuring permanent access to electronic publications, however, is a subject of increasing concern within academia, government, industry, and others interested in seeing that digital information does not disappear. NLM monitors related developments in standards, technology, collaborative strategies, and public policy, while working on practical approaches for its own electronic output.
PROGRAM PLANS
ORGANIZATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
PERMANENT ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
ENHANCING AND PRESERVING ACCESS TO RETROSPECTIVE AND HISTORICAL MATERIALS
SCOPE OF NLM’S COLLECTION AND DATABASES
PHYSICAL SPACE
Last updated: 18 March 2001
First published: 18 March 2001
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanent: Stable Content