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Lister Hill Center Auditorium Guide

Lister Hill Center Auditorium Guide

For questions, please contact the LHC Auditorium Events Coordinator at nlmaud@nlm.nih.gov.

General Information

The Lister Hill Center Auditorium (LHC, Bldg. 38A) is a specialized 174-seat facility equipped with advanced audiovisual and digital projection capabilities. This venue is intended for events that require its technical features—such as conferences, symposia, and multimedia-focused workshops—and is not to be used for regular meetings or advisory body sessions.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM, Bldg. 38) and the LHC Auditorium are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms and water fountains are available, and six accessible parking spaces are located on the rooftop of the parking garage adjacent to Building 38A. Hearing assistance devices are available upon request with advance notice.

There is no cafeteria in the LHC building.

Due to the sensitivity of the equipment, no food or drink—including water bottles—is permitted inside the auditorium.

LHC Auditorium Operating Hours

Non-NIH attendees must review the following visitor links:

IMPORTANT: Non-U.S. person visitors may be required to be escorted during their visit by an NIH staff member who is also a U.S. person, in accordance with procedures established by the NIH ORS CSO and/or their designee(s). Escort-to-visitor ratios should be at least one Escort per five visitors at all times while inside NIH facilities, except in areas designated as open to the public in site-specific security plans.

NLM is not responsible for providing NIH escorts for visitors to the LHC Auditorium.

Non-NIH attendees must enter the NIH campus via the NIH Gateway Center. If driving, review the NIH visitor parking information. Please assure all non-NIH attendees familiarize themselves with the Gateway Center requirements.

LHC Auditorium Reservation Priorities

Reservations are prioritized based on alignment with NLM’s mission:

  1. Priority 1: Director of NLM, NLM Board of Regents, Board of Scientific Counselors meetings.
  2. Priority 2: Official NLM and NIH-sponsored national/international scientific meetings (may reserve up to 1 year in advance).
  3. Priority 3: NLM-approved meetings of other HHS agencies (may reserve up to 6 months in advance).
  4. Priority 4: NLM-approved meetings of other health-related organizations (e.g., professional societies) that align with NLM’s program goals (may reserve up to 3 months in advance).

Note: Only the NLM Director may change a confirmed reservation.

How to Reserve the LHC Auditorium

  1. An NIH Sponsor must complete and submit the “Request to Use the LHC Auditorium” form
  2. The NLM Office of the Director (OD) will approve or reject the request
  3. Upon approval, you will receive an official confirmation email
  4. The LHC Auditorium Coordinator can review the specific event requirements with the event coordinator. The LHC Auditorium Coordinator will be able to answer questions about the facility and the services available and can arrange a tour of the facility if requested on form. For questions about the form or process, refer to this guide or email nlmaud@nlm.nih.gov.

Sponsor or Event Coordinator Responsibilities

Event Support & Logistics

Poster Session Contractor:
Metropolitan Board Installers LLC
11589 Edmonston Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
301-675-1956

Before Your Event

  1. Submit Form NIH 827-2.
  2. Await event approval from NLM staff.
  3. Receive official approval and event guidelines from the LHC Auditorium Coordinator.
  4. Assign an Onsite Event Coordinator to manage day-of logistics and presenter coordination.
  5. Email your agenda to nlmaud@nlm.nih.gov at least 14 days prior to the event. Notify of any major updates as they occur.
  6. Include the following notice in all attendee materials: Food and drinks, including water bottles, are not permitted in the auditorium.
  7. A prior walkthrough/testing session is highly recommended.
  8. Presentation Setup:
    • Provide your own laptop or device for presentations.
    • Ensure it has the required HDMI connectors/adapters, power supply, and all presentation materials/media pre-loaded.
  9. Court Reporters:
    • If you’ve scheduled a transcriptionist, notify nlmaud@nlm.nih.gov so AV staff can arrange audio system access.
  10. Shipping Materials:
    • Contact nlmaud@nlm.nih.gov for shipping instructions if sending materials ahead of time.

On the Day of the Event

  1. Check in with the LHC Auditorium Coordinator.
    • Identify your Onsite Event Coordinator, who must remain in the auditorium throughout the event.
  2. Technical Check:
    • The Onsite Coordinator must meet with audiovisual staff 30 minutes before the event for system testing.
  3. The Onsite Coordinator will:
    • Direct presenters and ensure familiarity with equipment.
    • Assist with enforcing the no food or drink policy at the entrances.
    • Coordinate with audiovisual staff as needed.
  4. Mandatory Pre-Event Announcements:
    • Food and drink (including water bottles) are prohibited.
    • Graphics of these rules will display outside the auditorium.
    • Two minutes before the event begins, AV staff will play a required announcement:
    • During breaks, the Onsite and Auditorium Coordinators must continue to enforce this policy.

Building Information

Contact

Lister Hill Auditorium Coordination
Office of Computer and Communications Systems
📧 Email: nlmaud@nlm.nih.gov

Lister Hill Center Floor Plans below:

 

Last Reviewed: September 26, 2025