In order to assist the advancement of medical and related sciences and to aid the dissemination and exchange of scientific and other information important to the progress of medicine and to the public health, there is established the National Library of Medicine (hereafter in this part referred to as the “Library”).
The Secretary, through the Library and subject to subsection (d) of this section, shall—
(1) acquire and preserve books, periodicals, prints, films, recordings, and other library materials pertinent to medicine;
(2) organize the materials specified in paragraph (1) by appropriate cataloging, indexing, and bibliographical listings;
(3) publish and disseminate the catalogs, indexes, and bibliographies referred to in paragraph (2);
(4) make available, through loans, photographic or other copying procedures, or otherwise, such materials in the Library as the Secretary determines appropriate;
(5) provide reference and research assistance;
(6) publicize the availability from the Library of the products and services described in any of paragraphs (1) through (5);
(7) promote the use of computers and telecommunications by health professionals (including health professionals in rural areas) for the purpose of improving access to biomedical information for health care delivery and medical research; and
(8) engage in such other activities as the Secretary determines appropriate and as the Library's resources permit.
The Secretary may exchange, destroy, or otherwise dispose of any books, periodicals, films, and other library materials not needed for the permanent use of the Library.
(1) The Secretary may, after obtaining the advice and recommendations of the Board of Regents, prescribe rules under which the Library will—
(A) provide copies of its publications or materials,
(B) will make available its facilities for research, or
(C) will make available its bibliographic, reference, or other services,
to public and private entities and individuals.
(2) Rules prescribed under paragraph (1) may provide for making available such publications, materials, facilities, or services—
(A) without charge as a public service,
(B) upon a loan, exchange, or charge basis, or
(C) in appropriate circumstances, under contract arrangements made with a public or other nonprofit entity.
Whenever the Secretary, with the advice of the Board of Regents, determines that—
(1) in any geographic area of the United States there is no regional medical library adequate to serve such area;
(2) under criteria prescribed for the administration of section 286b–6 of this title, there is a need for a regional medical library to serve such area; and
(3) because there is no medical library located in such area which, with financial assistance under section 286b–6 of this title, can feasibly be developed into a regional medical library adequate to serve such area,
the Secretary may establish, as a branch of the Library, a regional medical library to serve the needs of such area.
Section 238 of this title shall be applicable to the acceptance and administration of gifts made for the benefit of the Library or for carrying out any of its functions, and the Board of Regents shall make recommendations to the Secretary relating to establishment within the Library of suitable memorials to the donors.
For purposes of this part, the terms “medicine” and “medical”, except when used in section 286a of this title, include preventive and therapeutic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, hospitalization, nursing, public health, and the fundamental sciences related thereto, and other related fields of study, research, or activity.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §465, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 857; amended Pub. L. 99–660, title III, §311(b)(1), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3779; Pub. L. 100–202, §101(h) [title II, §215], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–256, 1329–275; Pub. L. 100–607, title II, §204(2), Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3079; Pub. L. 100–690, title II, §2620(b)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4244; Pub. L. 101–381, title I, §102(2), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, §1401(a), (c)(1), title XX, §2010(b)(3), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 170, 214.)
1993—Pub. L. 103–43, §1401(c)(1), repealed amendment by Pub. L. 100–202. See 1987 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (b)(6) to (8). Pub. L. 103–43, §1401(a), added pars. (6) and (7) and redesignated former par. (6) as (8).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–43, §2010(b)(3), substituted “Section 238” for “Section 300aaa”.
1990—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–381 made technical amendment to reference to section 300aaa of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.
1988—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–690 made technical amendment to reference to section 300aaa of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.
Pub. L. 100–607 substituted “300aaa” for “300cc”.
1987—Pub. L. 100–202, which directed the amendment of “Section 465(B) of 42 U.S.C. 286” by inserting “between (5) and (6) an additional charge to the Secretary to ‘publicize the availability of the above products and services of the National Library of Medicine’ ”, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–43, §1401(c)(1).
1986—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–660 substituted “section 300cc of this title” for “section 300aa of this title”.
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–690 effective immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 100–607, which was approved Nov. 4, 1988, see section 2600 of Pub. L. 100–690, set out as a note under section 242m of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–660 effective Dec. 22, 1987, see section 323 of Pub. L. 99–660, as amended, set out as an Effective Date note under section 300aa–1 of this title.
Section 1401(c)(2) of Pub. L. 103–43 provided that: “With respect to the authority established for the National Library of Medicine in section 465(b)(6) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection (a) of this section [subsec. (b)(6) of this section], such authority shall be effective as if the authority had been established on December 22, 1987.”
(1)(A) The Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine consists of ex officio members and ten members appointed by the Secretary.
(B) The ex officio members are the Surgeons General of the Public Health Service, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Dean of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the Assistant Director for Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Agricultural Library, and the Librarian of Congress (or their designees).
(C) The appointed members shall be selected from among leaders in the various fields of the fundamental sciences, medicine, dentistry, public health, hospital administration, pharmacology, health communications technology, or scientific or medical library work, or in public affairs. At least six of the appointed members shall be selected from among leaders in the fields of medical, dental, or public health research or education.
(2) The Board shall annually elect one of the appointed members to serve as chairman until the next election. The Secretary shall designate a member of the Library staff to act as executive secretary of the Board.
The Board shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters of policy in regard to the Library, including such matters as the acquisition of materials for the Library, the scope, content, and organization of the Library's services, and the rules under which its materials, publications, facilities, and services shall be made available to various kinds of users. The Secretary shall include in the annual report of the Secretary to the Congress a statement covering the recommendations made by the Board and the disposition thereof. The Secretary may use the services of any member of the Board in connection with matters related to the work of the Library, for such periods, in addition to conference periods, as the Secretary may determine.
Each appointed member of the Board shall hold office for a term of four years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of such member was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. None of the appointed members shall be eligible for reappointment within one year after the end of the preceding term of such member.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §466, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 859; amended Pub. L. 102–405, title III, §302(e)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1985; Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, §2008(b)(11), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 211.)
1993—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103–43 substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.
1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director”.
The Administrator of General Services may acquire, by purchase, condemnation, donation, or otherwise, a suitable site or sites, selected by the Secretary in accordance with the direction of the Board, for suitable and adequate buildings and facilities for use of the Library and to erect thereon, furnish, and equip such buildings and facilities. Amounts appropriated to carry out this section may be used for the cost of preparation of drawings and specifications, supervision of construction, and other administrative expenses incident to the work. The Administrator of General Services shall prepare the plans and specifications, make all necessary contracts, and supervise construction.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §467, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 859; amended Pub. L. 109–482, title I, §103(b)(38), Jan. 15, 2007, 120 Stat. 3688.)
2007—Pub. L. 109–482 substituted “for suitable and adequate buildings and facilities for use of the Library” for “for such buildings and facilities” and “Amounts appropriated to carry out this section may be used for” for “The amounts authorized to be appropriated by this section include” and struck out first sentence which read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated amounts sufficient for the erection and equipment of suitable and adequate buildings and facilities for use of the Library.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–482 applicable only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years, see section 109 of Pub. L. 109–482, set out as a note under section 281 of this title.
Section, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §468, as added Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, §1402(a), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 170, authorized appropriations for this part.
Repeal applicable only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years, see section 109 of Pub. L. 109–482, set out as an Effective Date of 2007 Amendment note under section 281 of this title.
Section, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §469, as added Nov. 20, 1985, Pub. L. 99–158, §2, 99 Stat. 860; amended Nov. 4, 1988, Pub. L. 100–607, title I, §146(a), 102 Stat. 3058, authorized appropriations for grants and contracts under sections 286b–3 through 286b–7 of this title.
As used in this subpart—
(1) the term “medical library” means a library related to the sciences related to health; and
(2) the term “sciences related to health” includes medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, and public health, and fundamental and applied sciences when related thereto.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §470, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 860.)
The Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine shall also serve as the National Medical Libraries Assistance Advisory Board (hereafter in this subpart referred to as the “Board”).
The Board shall advise and assist the Secretary in the preparation of general regulations and with respect to policy matters arising in the administration of this subpart.
The Secretary may use the services of any member of the Board, in connection with matters related to the administration of this part for such periods, in addition to conference periods, as the Secretary may determine.
Appointed members of the Board who are not otherwise in the employ of the United States, while attending conferences of the Board or otherwise serving at the request of the Secretary in connection with the administration of this subpart, shall be entitled to receive compensation, per diem in lieu of subsistence, and travel expenses in the same manner and under the same conditions as that prescribed under section 210(c) of this title when attending conferences, traveling, or serving at the request of the Secretary in connection with the Board's function under this section.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §471, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 860.)
Advisory boards established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a board established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such board is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a board established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See sections 3(2) and 14 of Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, 776, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Pub. L. 93–641, §6, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2275, set out as a note under section 217a of this title, provided that an advisory committee established pursuant to the Public Health Service Act shall terminate at such time as may be specifically prescribed by an Act of Congress enacted after Jan. 4, 1975.
The Secretary shall make grants—
(1) to individuals to enable them to accept traineeships and fellowships leading to postbaccalaureate academic degrees in the field of medical library science, in related fields pertaining to sciences related to health, or in the field of the communication of information;
(2) to individuals who are librarians or specialists in information on sciences relating to health, to enable them to undergo intensive training or retraining so as to attain greater competence in their occupations (including competence in the fields of automatic data processing and retrieval);
(3) to assist appropriate public and private nonprofit institutions in developing, expanding, and improving training programs in library science and the field of communications of information pertaining to sciences relating to health; and
(4) to assist in the establishment of internship programs in established medical libraries meeting standards which the Secretary shall prescribe.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §472, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 860.)
The Secretary shall make grants to physicians and other practitioners in the sciences related to health, to scientists, and to public or nonprofit private institutions on behalf of such physicians, other practitioners, and scientists for the compilation of existing, or the writing of original, contributions relating to scientific, social, or cultural advancements in sciences related to health. In making such grants, the Secretary shall make appropriate arrangements under which the facilities of the Library and the facilities of libraries of public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning may be made available in connection with the projects for which such grants are made.
The Secretary shall make grants to appropriate public or private nonprofit institutions and enter into contracts with appropriate persons, for purposes of carrying out projects of research, investigations, and demonstrations in the field of medical library science and related activities and for the development of new techniques, systems, and equipment, for processing, storing, retrieving, and distributing information pertaining to sciences related to health.
(1) The Secretary shall make grants to public or nonprofit private institutions for the purpose of carrying out projects of research on, and development and demonstration of, new education technologies.
(2) The purposes for which a grant under paragraph (1) may be made include projects concerning—
(A) computer-assisted teaching and testing of clinical competence at health professions and research institutions;
(B) the effective transfer of new information from research laboratories to appropriate clinical applications;
(C) the expansion of the laboratory and clinical uses of computer-stored research databases; and
(D) the testing of new technologies for training health care professionals.
(3) The Secretary may not make a grant under paragraph (1) unless the applicant for the grant agrees to make the projects available with respect to—
(A) assisting in the training of health professions students; and
(B) enhancing and improving the capabilities of health professionals regarding research and teaching.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §473, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 861; amended Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, §1411, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 171.)
1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–43 added subsec. (c).
(a) The Secretary shall make grants of money, materials, or both, to public or private nonprofit medical libraries and related scientific communication instrumentalities for the purpose of establishing, expanding, and improving their basic medical library or related resources. A grant under this subsection may be used for—
(1) the acquisition of books, journals, photographs, motion picture and other films, and other similar materials;
(2) cataloging, binding, and other services and procedures for processing library resource materials for use by those who are served by the library or related instrumentality;
(3) the acquisition of duplication devices, facsimile equipment, film projectors, recording equipment, and other equipment to facilitate the use of the resources of the library or related instrumentality by those who are served by it; and
(4) the introduction of new technologies in medical librarianship.
(b)(1) The amount of any grant under this section to any medical library or related instrumentality shall be determined by the Secretary on the basis of the scope of library or related services provided by such library or instrumentality in relation to the population and purposes served by it. In making a determination of the scope of services served by any medical library or related instrumentality, the Secretary shall take into account—
(A) the number of graduate and undergraduate students making use of the resources of such library or instrumentality;
(B) the number of physicians and other practitioners in the sciences related to health utilizing the resources of such library or instrumentality;
(C) the type of supportive staffs, if any, available to such library or instrumentality;
(D) the type, size, and qualifications of the faculty of any school with which such library or instrumentality is affiliated;
(E) the staff of any hospital or hospitals or of any clinic or clinics with which such library or instrumentality is affiliated; and
(F) the geographic area served by such library or instrumentality and the availability within such area of medical library or related services provided by other libraries or related instrumentalities.
(2) Grants to such medical libraries or related instrumentalities under this section shall be in such amounts as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe with a view to assuring adequate continuing financial support for such libraries or instrumentalities from other sources during and after the period for which grants are provided, except that in no case shall any grant under this section to a medical library or related instrumentality for any fiscal year exceed $1,000,000.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §474, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 861; amended Pub. L. 100–607, title I, §146(b), Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3058; Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, §1401(b), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 170.)
1993—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–43 substituted “$1,000,000” for “$750,000”.
1988—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–607 substituted “$750,000” for “$500,000”.
The Secretary, with the advice of the Board, shall make grants to and enter into contracts with existing public or private nonprofit medical libraries so as to enable each of them to serve as the regional medical library for the geographical area in which it is located.
The uses for which grants and contracts under this section may be employed include the—
(1) acquisition of books, journals, and other similar materials;
(2) cataloging, binding, and other procedures for processing library resource materials for use by those who are served by the library;
(3) acquisition of duplicating devices and other equipment to facilitate the use of the resources of the library by those who are served by it;
(4) acquisition of mechanisms and employment of personnel for the speedy transmission of materials from the regional library to local libraries in the geographic area served by the regional library; and
(5) planning for services and activities under this section.
(1) Grants and contracts under this section shall only be made to or entered into with medical libraries which agree—
(A) to modify and increase their library resources, and to supplement the resources of cooperating libraries in the region, so as to be able to provide adequate supportive services to all libraries in the region as well as to individual users of library services; and
(B) to provide free loan services to qualified users and make available photoduplicated or facsimile copies of biomedical materials which qualified requesters may retain.
(2) The Secretary, in awarding grants and contracts under this section, shall give priority to medical libraries having the greatest potential of fulfilling the needs for regional medical libraries. In determining the priority to be assigned to any medical library, the Secretary shall consider—
(A) the adequacy of the library (in terms of collections, personnel, equipment, and other facilities) as a basis for a regional medical library; and
(B) the size and nature of the population to be served in the region in which the library is located.
Grants and contracts under this section for basic resource materials to a library may not exceed—
(1) 50 percent of the library's annual operating expense (exclusive of Federal financial assistance under this part) for the preceding year; or
(2) in case of the first year in which the library receives a grant under this section for basic resource materials, 50 percent of its average annual operating expenses over the past three years (or if it had been in operation for less than three years, its annual operating expenses determined by the Secretary in accordance with regulations).
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §475, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 862.)
(a) The Secretary, with the advice of the Board, shall make grants to, and enter into appropriate contracts with, public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education and individual scientists for the purpose of supporting biomedical scientific publications of a nonprofit nature and to procure the compilation, writing, editing, and publication of reviews, abstracts, indices, handbooks, bibliographies, and related matter pertaining to scientific works and scientific developments.
(b) Grants under subsection (a) of this section in support of any single periodical publication may not be made for more than three years, except in those cases in which the Secretary determines that further support is necessary to carry out the purposes of subsection (a) of this section.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §476, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 863.)
(a) Payments under grants made under sections 286b–3, 286b–4, 286b–5, 286b–6, and 286b–7 of this title may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement and in such installments as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation after consultation with the Board.
(b)(1) Each recipient of a grant under this subpart shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such grant, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection with which such grant is given or used, and the amount of that portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
(2) The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of such recipients that are pertinent to any grant received under this subpart.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §477, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 863.)
In order to focus and expand the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of the results of biotechnology research by information systems, and to support and enhance the development of new information technologies to aid in the understanding of the molecular processes that control health and disease, there is established the National Center for Biotechnology Information (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Center”) in the National Library of Medicine.
The Secretary, through the Center and subject to section 286(d) of this title, shall—
(1) design, develop, implement, and manage automated systems for the collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, and dissemination of knowledge concerning human molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics;
(2) perform research into advanced methods of computer-based information processing capable of representing and analyzing the vast number of biologically important molecules and compounds;
(3) enable persons engaged in biotechnology research and medical care to use systems developed under paragraph (1) and methods described in paragraph (2); and
(4) coordinate, as much as is practicable, efforts to gather biotechnology information on an international basis.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §478, as added Pub. L. 100–607, title I, §105, Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3052; amended Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, §1402(b), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 171.)
1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–43 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: “For the purpose of performing the duties specified in subsection (b) of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1989 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1990. Funds appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.”
There is established within the Library an entity to be known as the National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (in this section referred to as the “Center”).
The purpose of the Center is the collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and dissemination of information on health services research, clinical practice guidelines, and on health care technology, including the assessment of such technology. Such purpose includes developing and maintaining data bases and developing and implementing methods of carrying out such purpose.
The Director of the Center shall ensure that information under subsection (b) of this section concerning clinical practice guidelines is collected and maintained electronically and in a convenient format. Such Director shall develop and publish criteria for the inclusion of practice guidelines and technology assessments in the information center database.
The Secretary, acting through the Center, shall coordinate the activities carried out under this section through the Center with related activities of the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §478A, as added Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, §1421, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 171; amended Pub. L. 106–129, §2(b)(2), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1670.)
1999—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–129 substituted “Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality” for “Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research”.
Section 1422(b) of Pub. L. 103–43 provided that: “The amendments made by section 3 of Public Law 102–410 (106 Stat. 2094) [amending section 299a–1 of this title], by section 1421 of this Act [enacting this section], and by subsection (a) of this section [amending section 299a–1 of this title] may not be construed as terminating the information center on health care technologies and health care technology assessment established under section 904 of the Public Health Service Act [section 299a–2 of this title], as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of Public Law 102–410 [Oct. 13, 1992]. Such center shall be considered to be the center established in section 478A of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 1421 of this Act [this section], and shall be subject to the provisions of such section 478A.”