Council of Health Sciences Libraries to the Midwest Health S

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Descriptive Summary

IdentificationMSCHSL17
TitleCouncil of Health Sciences Libraries to the Midwest Health Sciences Libraries Network records MSCHSL17
PublisherSpecial Collections
LanguageEnglish
RepositorySpecial Collections
Physical Description0.63 Linear feet
Date1975-1977
AbstractThe Midwest Health Sciences Libraries Network was created to handle the inter-library loan requests received by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). ather than establish costly branch libraries, the NLM decided to work with already existing health sciences libraries, making them Regional Medical Libraries. The Medical Assistance Act was signed into law in 1965, allowing the establishment of the Regional Medical Library Network. The Council of Health Sciences Libraries began in July 1967 as the Council to the Regional Medical Library and Co-Operative Information Services. The Midwest Health Sciences Libraries Network continues today as the Greater Midwest Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine.
LocationPlease note that this collection is housed in the Special Collections and University Archives Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago Library of the Health Sciences, 1750 West Polk Street, Room 320, Chicago, Illinois, 60612.

This is a small portion of records from the Council of Health Sciences Libraries to the Midwest Health Sciences Libraries Network. It contains correspondence; committee and board agendas and minutes; newsletters; and membership information. The records cover only a small portion of the organization's history.

Preferred Citation

[Collection Title], Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

Administrative History

The Midwest Health Sciences Libraries Network was created to handle the inter-library loan requests received by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Rather than establish costly branch libraries, the NLM decided to work with already existing health sciences libraries, making them Regional Medical Libraries. The Medical Assistance Act was signed into law in 1965, allowing the establishment of the Regional Medical Library Network. The Midwest region covered Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The Council of Health Sciences Libraries began in July 1967 as the Council to the Regional Medical Library and Co-Operative Information Services. Its charge was to assist with the operation of the Midwest Regional Medical Library, evaluate its programs and services and to encourage cooperation among health sciences libraries in the region. The John Crerar Library was chosen in 1968 to be the first Regional Medical Library of the NLM. The Crerar library, like the NLM had been, was swamped with inter-library loan request so the NLM tried a more decentralized approach. More libraries in each region became "resource libraries." Representatives from these libraries became the policy making body for the network. The Midwest Health Sciences Libraries Network continues today as the Greater Midwest Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine.