§286a Board of Regents

Summary

Creates a Board of Regents for the National Library of Medicine made up of ex officio officials and ten people the Secretary appoints. Ex officio members include the Surgeons General of the Public Health Service and the Army, Navy, and Air Force; the VA Under Secretary for Health; the Dean of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; an NSF assistant director for biological/behavioral/social sciences; the Director of the National Agricultural Library; and the Librarian of Congress (or their designees). Appointed members must be leaders in science, health, library work, or public affairs, and at least six must be from medical, dental, or public health research or education. The Board picks one appointed member each year as chair, and the Secretary names a Library staff member as executive secretary. Appointed members serve four-year terms, replacements serve the rest of a term, and members cannot be reappointed within one year after their term ends. The Board must advise the Secretary on Library policy, such as what to collect, how services are organized, and rules for using materials, publications, facilities, and services. The Secretary must include the Board’s recommendations and what was done about them in the annual report to Congress. The Secretary may also use Board members’ help on Library work outside of meetings for whatever time the Secretary decides.