STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ON OPERATIONS, NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, since this is my first appearance before your committee you may wish to have a brief résumé of my background and record of service. I am Lt. Col. Frank B. Rogers, Medical Corps, United States Army, on detail to the Public Health Service as Director, National Library of Medicine, 7th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, D. C. I was born in Norwood, Ohio, December 31, 1914, and educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, Ohio. I hold the degrees of bachelor of arts (Yale, 1936), doctor of medicine (Ohio State, 1942), and master of science in librarianship (Columbia, 1949). My Army experience includes service as a faculty member of the Medical Field Service School, as battalion surgeon in the 35th Infantry Regiment during the Luzon campaign, and as division surgeon of the 25th Infantry Division in Japan immediately following the war. I became Director of the Library in 1949 and have served in that capacity since that date. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE The National Library of Medicine was created in the Public Health Service by Public Law 941, 84th Congress. The new library is the successor organization to the Armed Forces Medical Library and continues the 120-year-old tradition established by that institution. MISSION AND FUNCTIONS The statutory mission assigned to the National Library of Medicine is to assist in the advancement of medical and related sciences, and to aid in dissemination and exchange of scientific and other information important to the progress of medicine and to the public health. In fulfillment of this mission the library acquires and preserves books, periodicals, prints, films, and recordings pertinent to medicine; it organizes these materials for use by appropriate cataloging, indexing, and bibliographical listing, and publishes the resulting efforts; it provides reference and research assistance through the medium of loans of material, photocopying, and other devices. LIBRARY HOLDINGS AND SCOPE The National Library of Medicine's holdings exceed 980,000 pieces-books, journals, theses, pamphlets, prints, and films. It is 1 of the 3 largest research libraries operated by the Federal Government, and one of the largest research libraries in a special subject discipline anywhere in the world. Material of clinical and research importance flows into the library from every country on the globe; German, French, Icelandic, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Hungarian, Portuguese and Swedish publications all make their contributions to the library's collection. More than 10,000 serial titles are regularly recorded. Each year the library acquires 80,000 monographs and journal pieces, the housing of which requires over a half mile of linear shelf footage. Each month its loan service places more than 10,000 items in the hands of medical research workers throughout this country. PUBLICATIONS AND SERVICES The library catalogs all of its acquisitions, and each year issues a printed record of this work for all to see and use. The library publishes a monthly index to the current periodical literature of medicine in which over 100,000 journal articles are listed by author and subject. Interlibrary loans, bibliographical and photoduplication services make it possible for the doctor, civilian or military, to have at his beck and call all of the library's resources. Every month the library staff answer over 600 reference questions. Recent special contributions made by the library include a bibliography on cancer chemotherapy, prepared in cooperation with the Committee on Chemotherapy of the National Advisory Cancer Council. At present, the library is working on an extensive bibliography on tranquilizers and hallucinogens in cooperation with the Psychopharmacology Service Center, National Institutes of Health. VALUES It would be difficult to exaggerate the widespread influence the library has on advances in the medical sciences through its functions as a fundamental source and wellspring for the dissemination of medical information. One of the cardinal necessities of health research is access to books and journals in the medical and related fields. Unless workers have access to such materials, research is seriously handicapped and research grants may be wastefully spent. No other medical agency of the Federal Government serves the future of medical research more intimately and more widely than does the unequaled collection of books, journals and bibliographic services brought together in the National Library of Medicine. Medical bibliography is a matter of concern to the entire medical profession and to the scientific world; it must both reflect and guide the purposes and methods of scientific inquiry. In the National Library of Medicine the Nation possesses a priceless and irreplaceable collection of literature, of all times, from all places, and in all languages. The services the library renders physicians, dentists, hospital administrators, public health workers, educators, sanitarians, and workers in every field of health lie at the very heart of the process of scientific research, and provide a most important impetus to the advancement of the frontiers of medical knowledge and the alleviation of disease and human suffering. BOARD OF REGENTS The past 6 months under the aegis of the Public Health Service has been a period of transition for the library. That period is now pretty well over and we have shaken down satisfactorily into new, but only slightly different, administrative patterns. The Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine was established to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Surgeon General on important matters of policy in regard to the library. It was appointed by the President on February 18, confirmed by the Senate on February 22, and held its first meeting in Washington on March 20. A second meeting was held on April 29. At this meeting the Board of Regents selected a site for the new building on the grounds of the National Institute of Health. The Board reviewed and rendered advice on the major policies of the library's operation. The Board consists of the Surgeons General of the 4 uniformed services, the Chief Medical Director of the Veterans' Administration, the Assistant Director for Biological and Medical Sciences, National Science Foundation, the Librarian of Congress, and 10 distinguished civilians from the fields of medicine, surgery, dentistry, public health, medical education, medical research, and medical bibliography. 1958 BUDGET ESTIMATE The budget estimate of $1,450,000 for fiscal year 1958 provides for continuation of operations at the 1957 level with increases for night hours of service, purchase of new and replacement equipment partially deferred in 1957, payments to the retirement fund, and the cost of reclassification of librarian series positions. MISSION OF NATIONAL LIBRARY Colonel ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, the National Library of Medicine, created in the Public Health Service by Public Law 941 of the 84th Congress, succeeds the Armed Forces Medical Library, which was founded in 1836. The mission of the National Library of Medicine is to assist the advancement of medical and related sciences, and to aid the dissemination and exchange of scientific and other information which is important to the progress of medicine and public health. In fulfilling its mission, the library acquires and preserves books, periodicals, prints, films, and recordings pertinent to medicine. It organizes these materials for use by appropriate cataloging, indexing, and bibliographical listing, and publishes the resulting efforts. It also provides reference and research assistance through the medium of loans of material, photo-copying and other devices. The holdings of the National Library of Medicine exceed 980,000 pieces, comprising books, journals, theses, pamphlets, prints, and films. It is 1 of the 3 largest research libraries operated by the Federal Government and 1 of the largest research libraries in a special subject discipline in the world. Each month its loan service places over 10,000 items in the hands of medical research workers throughout the country. BUDGET ESTIMATE The budget estimate of $1,450,000 for the fiscal year 1958 provides for continuation of operations at the 1957 level, with increases for night opening of the library, purchase of new and replacement equipment which was partially deferred in 1957, support of contributions to the retirement fund, and the cost of reclassification of librarian series positions. Senator HILL. If I might interrupt at that point, Colonel, I might state that I had the privilege of presiding at the subcommittee meetings that we had on public welfare last year when we considered the amount for the creation of the National Library of Medicine. At that time we had the pleasure of hearing from you and other distinguished witnesses. So I might claim to have at least some familiarity with the importance of the library and the outstanding service that it has rendered. Have you filed your full statement with the committee, sir? Senator HILL. Thank you, sir. That statement will appear in full in the record. HOUSE ACTION The House gave you the full budget estimate; is that correct? Colonel ROGERS. That is correct. They gave us the full amount. Senator HILL. Are you going ahead now with the planning for the building? Colonel ROGERS. Yes, sir; we are. The architectural firm has been appointed. It is the firm of O'Connor & Kilham, of New York City, which has extensive experience in building great libraries. They built the Firestone Library at Princeton University, the new Colgate Library, the new library at the University of Louisville. They are proceeding with plans for the new building. Senator HILL. When do you expect to have the plans completed? Colonel ROGERS. I expect that, under the best circumstances, the plans, through working drawings, will be completed early next spring. Senator HILL. Will it take that long a time to complete those plans? Colonel ROGERS. Yes, sir, it will. We expect that it will be September before we can reach the stage just prior to the working drawings stage. Then the working drawing stage will be an enormous task that will probably take until spring to complete. START OF CONSTRUCTION Senator HILL. Then is my understanding correct that you would not be ready to go ahead with the construction of the building until some time next spring, even if you did have the funds for construc Colonel ROGERS. That is true. It will be some time after next spring before we can go ahead with construction of the building. Senator HILL. As I say, Colonel, I think I have a pretty good idea of the tremendous importance of this library, and the work that you are doing in the library. We certainly appreciate your appearance before us here this morning. Colonel ROGERS. Thank you, sir. Do you Senator HILL. Now, Mr. Harlow, I understand your next item will be the salaries and expenses for the Public Health Service. want to address yourself to that now? Mr. HARLOW. Yes; Mr. Chairman. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE SALARIES AND EXPENSES STATEMENT OF ROY L. HARLOW, CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE "Salaries and expenses: For the divisions and offices of the Office of the Surgeon General and for miscellaneous expenses of the Public Health Service not appropriated for elsewhere, including preparing information, articles, and publications related to public health; and conducting studies and demonstrations in public health methods; [$3,172,000] $5,150,000.” EFFECT OF HOUSE ACTION Activity No. 1: Public health methods and reports The full amount requested of $1,800,000 and 110 positions was allowed by the House. This is an increase of $582,000 over the 1957 base. This increase includes $86,327 for mandatory items; $495,673 to permit attainment of the program level contemplated under the legislation providing for the national health survey program of which $113,837 is for 16 new positions and consultants, $236,900 for additional contractual service with the Census Bureau, and $144,936 for other objects. Activity No. 2: Management and central services The House effected a reduction of $50,000 and 7 positions from the proposed increase of $655,000 and 54 positions for this activity. The proposed increase of $50,000, which was disallowed, will result in the elimination of 4 positions from the property and supply management program, and 3 positions from the personnel program. The increase allowed will cover mandatory items in the amount of $146,973, and will permit partial restoration of staffing reductions which have been made over the past several years in the Office of the Surgeon General. Since 1950 there has been an uninterrupted diminution of staff due to absorption of increased costs that were largely uncontrollable. Such absorbed costs include portions of various pay increases, salaries of telephone operators, and increased charges for tabulating duplicating and switchboard services. Restoration of staffing is needed to permit effective administration of the Public Health Service program, to which the enactment of recent legislation has added substantial responsibilities. Such legislation includes the Health Amendments Act of 1956, the National Health Survey Act, the Water Pollution Control Act amendments of 1956, the Dependents' Medical Care Act, the National Library of Medicine Act, the Health Research Facilities Act of 1956, and the Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act. |