§ 286.
(b)
Functions
The 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.
(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; establishment
Whenever 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.
([July 1, 1944, ch. 373], title IV, § 465, as added [Pub. L. 99–158, § 2], Nov. 20, 1985, [99 Stat. 857]; amended [Pub. L. 99–660, title III, § 311(b)(1)], Nov. 14, 1986, [100 Stat. 3779]; [Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(h) [title II, § 215]], Dec. 22, 1987, [101 Stat. 1329–256], 1329–275; [Pub. L. 100–607, title II, § 204(2)], Nov. 4, 1988, [102 Stat. 3079]; [Pub. L. 100–690, title II, § 2620(b)(1)], Nov. 18, 1988, [102 Stat. 4244]; [Pub. L. 101–381, title I, § 102(2)], Aug. 18, 1990, [104 Stat. 585]; [Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, § 1401(a)], (c)(1), title XX, § 2010(b)(3), June 10, 1993, [107 Stat. 170], 214.)