Information for First Time Visitors
- Overview of Historical Collections
- Are you planning your first visit to the History of Medicine Reading Room?
-
Overview of Historical Collections
NLM historical collections of material related to health and disease are among the richest in the world. Holdings include pre-1914 books, pre-1871 journals, archives and modern manuscripts, medieval and Islamic manuscripts, a collection of printed books, manuscripts, and visual material in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean; historical prints, photographs, films, and videos; pamphlets, dissertations, theses, college catalogs, and government documents. The collection is constantly growing, with new material added through an active Acquisitions Program of purchase and donation.
-
Are you planning your first visit to the History of Medicine Reading Room?
-
How to make your research visit productive:
- See the Visit Us page for directions, hours, parking, and security information.
- Browse our FAQs to find answers to frequently asked questions.
- Explore our Information for Scholars page, with special attention to Doing Research at the Library.
-
Before you come to the Library:
- Read The Story of NLM Historical Collections.
- See What's Happening on the Homepage.
- Review visitor information at Visit Us.
-
Things to do and see in the Library:
- Visit the current exhibition, Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concept of Health and Illness.
- Take a guided tour of the current exhibition.
- Take a tour of the History of Medicine Reading Room.
- See all exhibitions.
- Take a tour of the Library.
- "Turn the pages" of Elizabeth Blackwell's A Curious Herbal, a beautifully illustrated 18th century book of medicinal plants, at the History of Medicine Reading Room's Turning the Pages kiosk.
- Explore Objects of Art in the National Library of Medicine.
- Visit the interactive computer displays and pick up give-aways at the NLM Visitors Center, open weekdays except Federal holidays, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (EST)
-
Things to do and see at the National Institutes of Health (NIH Map):
-
Things to do and see around Washington
-