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Patron Registration and Requesting Library Materials

Registration

Patrons may only register in person, onsite at the Library. A valid Photo-ID such as a state driver's license or state ID, Passport, United States Military ID, University ID or NIH ID, will be required to complete the registration process.

You may Register at any of the NLM LocatorPlus workstations in the main Reading Room. On the "Welcome to the Reading Room" screen, click on the "Get a Library Card" link located on the left hand side of the screen and follow the instructions. When you have finished entering the required registration information, go to the "Patron Registration and Photocopy Services Desk" to get your Photo-ID Library Card.

Patrons wishing to request History of Medicine (HMD) materials must complete a supplementary registration form at the HMD Circulation Desk.

Requesting Materials

After you have received your Photo-ID Library Card, you may submit requests for items in the closed stacks of the Library at any of the NLM LocatorPlus workstations in either the main Reading Room or the History of Medicine (HMD) Reading Room. Patrons are limited to retrieval of 50 items per day.

  • For items accessed through the main Reading Room, biomedical researchers and scholars working on special projects may apply for an exception to the daily limit by discussing their needs with a Collection Access Section (CAS) staff person at the Circulation Desk or by calling (301) 496-5511 to speak with a CAS supervisor.
  • For items held in the History of Medicine Division, exceptions to the limits should be discussed with staff at the HMD Circulation Desk.
  • Service to the closed stacks stops one hour before the Library closes.

Picking Up Materials

Journals requested from 1871 to the present and books requested from 1914 to the present should be picked up at the Circulation Desk in the main Reading Room. Older materials and items located in the "HMD Collection" should be picked up at the HMD Circulation Desk. Patrons will be required to show their NLM Photo-ID Library Card when picking-up their materials at either Circulation Desk.