United States National Library of Medicine facts for kids
The United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) is a very important medical library located in Bethesda, Maryland. It is run by the United States government and is the biggest medical library in the whole world! Think of it as a giant treasure chest of information about health and medicine for doctors, scientists, and even you. The NLM helps people find reliable health information and supports medical research.
Contents
What is the National Library of Medicine?
The National Library of Medicine is not just a place with books. It is a huge center for medical knowledge. It collects, organizes, and shares information about health, medicine, and science. This library helps doctors, nurses, and researchers learn new things. It also provides information that can help regular people understand their health better.
A World-Class Collection
The NLM has an amazing collection of items. It includes millions of books, journals, and other documents. These cover everything from ancient medical texts to the latest scientific discoveries. They also have a lot of digital resources. This means you can find information online from anywhere in the world.
Books and Journals
Imagine a library with over 17 million items! That's how big the NLM's collection is. It has books, magazines (called journals), and reports. These materials cover many topics. You can find information on diseases, new medicines, and how the human body works.
Digital Resources
In today's world, much information is online. The NLM has many digital resources. They have huge databases that store millions of articles and research papers. Some of their most famous online tools include PubMed and MedlinePlus. These tools help people find trusted health information quickly.
Helping People Learn and Discover
The NLM's main goal is to make health information available to everyone. They do this in several ways:
- For Scientists and Doctors: They provide advanced tools and databases for medical research. This helps scientists discover new treatments and cures.
- For the Public: They offer easy-to-understand health information. This helps families make good choices about their health.
- For Students: They have resources that can help students learn about biology, medicine, and health careers.
History of the NLM
The National Library of Medicine has a long and interesting history. It started a very long time ago.
Early Beginnings
The library first began in 1836. It was part of the U.S. Army Surgeon General's Office. Its original purpose was to serve military doctors. Over time, its collection grew much larger. It became clear that this library was important for all of medicine, not just the military.
Becoming the National Library
In 1956, the library officially became the National Library of Medicine. This change showed its importance to the entire country. It moved to its current home in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1962. The new building was designed to hold its growing collection. It also had modern facilities for research.
Innovations in Information
The NLM has always been at the forefront of technology. They were one of the first libraries to use computers to manage their information. They developed early computer systems to organize medical literature. This made it much easier for researchers to find what they needed. Their work helped create the internet-based information systems we use today.
How the NLM Impacts You
Even if you've never visited the NLM, its work affects your life.
Reliable Health Information
When you search for health information online, you might be using resources that the NLM helps create. Websites like MedlinePlus provide accurate and easy-to-understand information on diseases, medicines, and healthy living. This helps you and your family stay informed and make smart health decisions.
Supporting Medical Research
The NLM's databases are used by scientists all over the world. They help researchers find past studies and share new discoveries. This speeds up the process of finding new treatments and understanding diseases. So, the NLM plays a quiet but very important role in medical breakthroughs.
Preserving Medical History
The library also keeps a vast collection of historical medical documents. These old books and papers show how medicine has changed over hundreds of years. They help us understand where we came from in medicine and how far we've come.
Images for kids
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The glowing facade of the National Library of Medicine at night.
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View of the National Library of Medicine’s main reading room, with a Mondrian-influenced modernist design.
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Main reading room
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The gleaming new reading room of the History of Medicine Division, in the National Library of Medicine on the National Institutes of Health campus, Bethesda, Maryland.
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History of Medicine reading room
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Interior view of the Binding Section.
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View of front entrance of the new National Library of Medicine building under construction, in Bethesda, Maryland.
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Front of the National Library of Medicine
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina de Estados Unidos para niños
