This paper traces the growth, decline, and termination of the State University of New York Biomedical Communication Network (SUNY/BCN). It is noted that SUNY/BCN became operational in 1968 with nine medical library members and provided the first online access to the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS) of the National Library…

Programs of the National Library of Medicine over almost a century and a half are described, ranging from a history of American medical literature and the development of medical indexing to modern technological developments. Activities covered include the development of the Toxicology Information Program and the online data base TOXLINE; the…

Examines the difficulties faced by the implementors of information dissemination systems in developing nations and explores the possible use of optical data disk technologies to overcome them. A pilot project of the Pan American Health Organization for the production of a CD-ROM containing bibliographic references on public health is described.…

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) had its beginnings in the Library of the Army Surgeon General's office established in 1836. Dr. John Shaw Billings, who was in charge from 1865 to 1895, greatly influenced the growth of the library and also initiated production of the widely used "Index Catalogue" of author and subject listings as…

The objectives of this study were to examine the need and potential demand for computer-based information services in the University of Otago medical libraries, to evaluate the various databases of interest, and to recommend the best means of access to such services. Data were collected through user and library surveys, an extensive literature…