In This Issue:
New
NLM Web Site
MEDLINE
Logs Ten Millionth Citation
Betsy
Humphreys Heads Library Operations
ELHILL
and TOXNET Change
 Regents
Chart New Course
Honoring
Elsie Werth
Native
American Youth Visit
Dr.
Spann Retires
Public
Health Center Named for Dr. Mel Spann
NLM
Rolls Out New Booth
Dr.
Harold Schoolman Retires
Dead
Sea Scrolls
Emerging
Health Information Infrastructure
Worthy
of Note: BLAST
Partners
In Information Access Awards
Bosma
and McCutcheon Appointed Section Heads
NLM
Director Visits University of Colorado
Training
NLM Associate Fellows
"Breath
of Life" Exhibit
Dr.
Allen Dies
In Every Issue:
Names
in the News
Products
and Publications
NLM
in Print
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Regents Chart New Course
Regarding Consumer Health
Information
Resolution Reflects Public's Desire for Easy Access to
Reliable Resources
On May 6, 1999, the NLM Board of Regents passed the following
resolution, "NLM and Health Information for the Public." The Board
advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the Secretary
of Health and Human Services and the Director of NLM on matters
related to the activities and policies of the
Library.
Purpose
NLM's goal is to improve the national infrastructure that
supports the public's access to electronic health information. This
infrastructure includes the intellectual organization, information
technology, inter-institutional arrangements, and training that will
be needed to ensure that all people in the U.S. have a known,
accessible, understandable, and affordable source of current,
authoritative health information.
Audience
NLM's efforts are targeted toward members of the public, health
professionals seeking information for individual patients or whole
communities, librarians and other health information providers, and
health educators. NLM works with a variety of intermediaries,
including family members, health care providers, public health
professionals, librarians, educators and community -based
organizations to reach those who lack direct access to electronic
health information.
Priorities
- Organize selected authoritative electronic information that is
available at low or no-cost, with an emphasis on science-based,
nationally applicable resources.
- Develop easy-to-use access and delivery mechanisms that
promote the public's understanding of health information, drawing
on research in lay terminology, graphical and multimedia
presentation, etc.
- Publicize reputable electronic health information services,
including those available from NLM and other sources.
- Assist those providing health information to the public to
make effective use of electronic services through Internet
connections, training, and other means, with an emphasis on those
serving minority groups, low income populations, seniors.
- Promote integration of NLM services with other electronic
services covering regional, state, or local health information.
- Refer members of the public to regional, state, and local
sources of reference assistance and document delivery and continue
to serve as the national backup.
- Conduct and support research, development, and evaluation on
the public's health information needs, information seeking
behaviors and learning styles, information systems that meet the
public's needs, and the impact of access to information.
Exclusions
- Will not provide personal medical or health advice to
individuals
- Will not lead disease prevention or health promotion campaigns
- Will not write new information content, but will bring gaps to
the attention of NIH
- Will not expand its acquisition and cataloging of print
materials written for the general public, but will continue to
acquire selected high quality print items
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