Cummings M M, Corning M E
Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1971 Jul;59(3):375-91.
The imbalance between medical library resources and information needs of the health professional led to a reexamination of the mandate for the National Library of Medicine. Legislation known as the Medical Library Assistance Act (MLAA) was passed in 1965 which enabled the NLM to (1) initiate programs to assist the nation's medical libraries and (2) develop a medical library network with the establishment of regional medical libraries to link the NLM with local institutions. The National Library of Medicine, through the MLAA, has made available $40.8 million to the medical library community under a competitive grant and contract mechanism for the period July 1965-June 1970. A total of 604 projects has been executed in resources, research and development, training, construction, regional medical libraries, publications, and special scientific projects. An assessment is given of each of these programs and their impact on both the National Library of Medicine and individual medical libraries. In the aggregate, these programs have significantly improved library and information services to the professional health user. The principal limitation has been inadequate funding to accomplish the level of originally stated objectives.
医学图书馆资源与卫生专业人员信息需求之间的失衡，促使人们重新审视国立医学图书馆的使命。1965年通过了一项名为《医学图书馆援助法案》（MLAA）的立法，该法案使国立医学图书馆能够：（1）启动协助美国医学图书馆的项目；（2）通过建立地区医学图书馆来发展医学图书馆网络，将国立医学图书馆与地方机构联系起来。国立医学图书馆通过《医学图书馆援助法案》，在1965年7月至1970年6月期间，通过竞争性拨款和合同机制，向医学图书馆界提供了4080万美元。在资源、研发、培训、建设、地区医学图书馆、出版物和特殊科学项目方面，共执行了604个项目。对这些项目中的每一个及其对国立医学图书馆和各个医学图书馆的影响进行了评估。总体而言，这些项目显著改善了向专业卫生用户提供的图书馆和信息服务。主要限制因素是资金不足，无法实现最初设定的目标水平。
