§286a Board of Regents

Summary

Creates a Board of Regents for the National Library of Medicine made up of certain officials and ten people the Secretary appoints. The officials include the Surgeons General of the Public Health Service, Army, Navy, and Air Force; the VA Under Secretary for Health; the Dean of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; the NSF Assistant Director for Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences; the Director of the National Agricultural Library; and the Librarian of Congress (or their designees). Appointed members must be leaders in fields like science, medicine, dentistry, public health, hospital administration, pharmacology, health communications, medical libraries, or public affairs. At least six appointees must be from medical, dental, or public health research or education. Appointed members serve four-year terms and cannot be reappointed until one year after their term ends. The Board elects one appointed member each year as chair. The Secretary names a Library staff member to be the Board’s executive secretary. The Board advises the Secretary on Library policy, collections, services, organization, and rules for who can use Library materials. The Secretary must include the Board’s recommendations and what was done about them in the annual report to Congress and may use Board members’ help as needed.