USC Subpart 1

42 U.S.C. § 286 National Library of Medicine

(a) Purpose and establishmentIn 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”). (b) FunctionsThe Secretary, through the Library and subject to subsection (d), 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. (c) Exchange, destruction, or disposal of materials not neededThe 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. (d) Availability of publications, materials, facilities, or services; prescription of rules(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. (e) Regional medical libraries; establishmentWhenever 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. (f) Acceptance and administration of gifts; memorialsSection 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. (g) “Medicine” and “medical” definedFor 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.

42 U.S.C. § 286a Board of Regents

(a) Membership; ex officio members(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. (b) Recommendations on matters of policy; recommendations included in annual report; use of services of members by SecretaryThe 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. (c) Term of office; vacancy; reappointmentEach 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.

42 U.S.C. § 286a–1 Library facilities

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.