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History of Medicine

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Other Works of Art

The Art of Medicine at the 21st Century, with the signature of Mary H. Lesser. Below are four patrons in the rotunda of the National Library of Medicine sitting at computers.  On the right of the computers is the reading room with its circulation desk, shelved books with call numbers on their spines, and portraits of the former directors of the Library.

'World Wide Dissemination of Medical Knowledge'
(Ink drawing with tempera, 36" x 43")
©May H. Lesser

In the rotunda of the National Library of Medicine, health scientists and students have access to current, uniform and accurate medical information. This world wide communication system cuts across national boundaries enabling as a nucleus, this group to be joined together in a library without walls. On the right of the computers is the reading room with its circulation desk, shelved books with call numbers on their spines, and portraits of the former directors of the Library. The surgeon who first served as director of the Army Medical Library 130 years ago has on academic red robes. There is an exhibit of Ellis Island on the other side of the computers. The first NLM Director had a hand in inventing the punched card used in tabulating statistics. The immigrants at Ellis Island were catalogued on such cards, documenting their origin, age and sex. These were the precursor of the modern computer.

Last Reviewed: May 11, 2012