The National Library of Medicine (NLM) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for Regional Medical Libraries of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM).

Established in 1965 and organized geographically across the United States and its territories, the NNLM promotes and supports the initiatives, products, and services of the NLM and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over the years, the network has expanded its impact through strategic partnerships with a broad array of member organizations, including health sciences, hospital, academic, and public libraries; health professionals; data organizations; and community-based groups.

The NNLM’s core mission is to enable the effective use of—and contribution to—health information and data made available by the NLM and NIH. The network achieves this by providing professional development for librarians and information specialists, and by supporting access to health information and outreach through libraries and community organizations. A central emphasis of the NNLM is increasing awareness of and engagement with NIH programs and resources.

While the NNLM has traditionally focused on promoting NLM-specific products, it is now poised to expand its reach across the broader NIH community. The network will play a vital role in disseminating research findings, fostering community engagement and partnerships, and supporting participation in local clinical research. In doing so, the NNLM will enhance public understanding of NIH’s contributions and increase the use of NIH-supported information and data resources.

The NNLM consists of three major components: 1) the Network Coordinating Center (NCC), 2) Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs), and 3) the Network Training Center (NTC). This announcement specifically pertains to RMLs, with companion NOFOs forthcoming for the NCC and NTC.

The RMLs will be responsible for generating and maintaining an active, engaged membership of organizations focused on biomedical health information and data dissemination, training, and literacy. The RMLs will work with the NCC and NTC to promote the activities, products, and services of the NLM as well as the NIH. The RMLs will work with the NCC to evaluate progress, performance, and impact of the Network, including the use of common metrics (standardized measures collected and reported), as well as proposed site-specific goals. The RMLs will collaborate with the NTC to identify training needs and execute professional development or information access programming.

The RMLs should have strong competencies in building and managing long-term partnerships with groups and organizations, deep understanding of biomedical information and data sciences, and institutional connections with a health science library.

Grant authority that allows NLM to forecast this opportunity is as follows: Medical Library Assistance Act of 1965 (MLAA, P.L. 89-291).

Business

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

Nonprofit

• Other Native American tribal organizations
• Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
• Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)

Education

• Public and state institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Independent school districts

Government

• Public and Indian housing authorities
• State governments
• City or township governments
• County governments
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Special district governments

Miscellaneous

• Other