Dr. Lindberg and Scholarly Publishing

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Biomedical Publishing
• Health Information Access

Background:

• Donald A.B. Lindberg M.D. directed the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) from 1984 to 2015.
• His leadership fostered significant external partnerships and initiatives.
• These collaborations aimed to expand the reach of NLM resources and improve biomedical information dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the NLM's partnerships and initiatives under Dr. Lindberg's directorship.
• To highlight the impact of these collaborations on medical information access and publishing.
• To examine the evolution of relationships between NLM and its partners.

Main Methods:

• Review of NLM's historical partnerships and initiatives during Dr. Lindberg's tenure.
• Analysis of collaborations with the publishing industry, journal editors, and professional organizations.
• Examination of specific programs like HINARI and the Emergency Access Initiative (EAI).

Main Results:

• Successful establishment of numerous partnerships, including the NLM Publisher's Committee and ICMJE.
• Development of key initiatives like HINARI and EAI to enhance access to medical information.
• Expansion of the use of resources such as MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov through external collaborations.
• Improved quality of biomedical journals and support for interactive publications.

Conclusions:

• Dr. Lindberg's vision significantly expanded NLM's scope and impact through strategic partnerships.
• Collaborations enhanced the accessibility and quality of biomedical information.
• Overcoming initial skepticism led to a better understanding and more effective cooperation between NLM and its partners.