The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is an outreach program funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The goal of NNLM is to advance the progress of medicine and improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving individuals' access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. A collaboration of members, the Network is comprised of academic health sciences libraries, hospital, pharmaceutical and other special biomedical libraries, public libraries, information centers and community-based organizations, coordinated by seven Regional Medical Libraries (RML) across the United States to support regional and national programs that serve the health information needs of health professionals and a diverse public.
The National Library of Medicine and the NIH’s All of Us Research Program (All of Us) have teamed up to build the NNLM All of Us Community Engagement Network (CEN). The CEN focuses on NNLM’s mission to improve the public’s access to health information and provide awareness of All of Us to communities that are Underrepresented in Biomedical Research by partnering with libraries across the United States. The CEN is designed to leverage the mission of the NNLM to help libraries in supporting the health information needs of their users. Libraries can engage with the NNLM All of Us CEN at three levels: Join Us, Work with Us, Lead with Us. Are you interested in engaging with the CEN?
What do we do?
The NNLM All of Us CEN connects public libraries with health information specialists to develop customized, innovative, and effective approaches for meeting a community's health literacy needs while providing value-added health information services for public libraries and public library staff.
How do we do this?
- By helping public libraries support the health information needs of their users in their communities with educational programming, training, and funding
- By inviting public libraries to engage with the network, connect with health information community partners, and share information about the NIH All of Us Research Program
How can you get involved?
Start by joining the Network of the National Library of Medicine. It's free with no obligation.
Then take our free consumer health information classes at your convenience where ever you have internet access. Finally, contact the NNLM All of Us Community Engagement Center (CEC) to discuss the program in a way that specifically supports your library and community health information and literacy needs.
Apply for our Test the Waters Family Exploration Kit
In collaboration with Cornerstones of Science, NNLM is offering a new resource to support community and citizen science outreach efforts in local communities through a fun, accessible and loanable kit for families. The Test the Waters Family Exploration Kit is currently accepting applications.
Citizen Science & Health
Community and Citizen Science (CCS) connects scientists and everyday people to help accelerate research and discovery.
As we face global challenges, there are local ways for us to be engaged in issues affecting our community health, environmental health, human genetics, technology and innovation. CCS is a collaboration between scientists and those of us who are just curious or concerned and motivated to make a difference. CCS is an opportunity for everyone to participate in fun and real science—following protocols for data collection, analysis and reporting.
NNLM promotes CCS by providing free resources to support these outreach efforts in your community.
Digital Health Literacy
In a time where we rely so heavily on digital connectivity, how can we ensure that library communities have the support they need to stay connected?
Are you interested in offering digital literacy training to support the health information needs of your community? NNLM has partnered with Wisconsin Health Literacy to create free, downloadable digital health literacy curriculum including a slide deck, accompanying script, and handouts for you to use! Materials can be used for both virtual and in-person training.