Strategy: 2010 – 2012
The German National Library of Medicine is the Federal Republic of Germany's central specialist library of medicine, health, and nutritional, environmental and agricultural science. It is responsible for the national supply of information and literature in its subject areas, as well as in those subject areas' basic sciences and in peripheral fields of research, teaching and practical application. Within this remit, it acquires and provides access to a broad range of literature and other information media, including highly specialist materials. The German National Library of Medicine is the national archive library for its subject areas and can expand its holdings by incorporating relevant stocks from other libraries.
Its portfolio of services caters to specific target groups and includes the provision of analogue and digital holdings as well as other central information services designed to establish and consolidate an information infrastructure in the relevant fields of knowledge.
The library collaborates with specialist institutions and associations and carries out applied research and development projects to further enhance its services.
The German National Library of Medicine sees itself as an organisation that makes a significant contribution towards protecting the health of people and the planet by faithfully fulfilling its core mandate. The information supplied by the ZB MED and the knowledge this generates form essential foundations for the specialist fields of medicine, health, nutrition, the environment, nature conservation and agricultural science. The library maintains its primary focus on customers who work in these fields in the sectors of research, teaching, business and industry, providing them with efficient and effective access to all the relevant information – directly from their various workplaces. It carries out research and development of service-driven products and information infrastructures and makes these permanently accessible. In addition, the ZB MED applies its expertise to political committee work and advises the professional community on management and implementation issues (e.g. evaluation, construction of a new library).
Our mission
In its role as a central provider of information infrastructure, the ZB MED guarantees permanent, comprehensive, worldwide digital access to relevant digital information from the fields of medicine and life sciences. It offers an extensive information infrastructure to support the process of scientific discoveries and the generation of new knowledge while safeguarding its position as a leading service partner in its subject areas. By ensuring a permanent and stable supply of scientific knowledge and specialist information, it makes a major contribution towards protecting the health of people and the planet.
Key objectives
The ZB MED strives to establish and consolidate essential aspects of the information infrastructure in the fields of medicine and life sciences. It aims to offer a supply of literature, information, knowledge and services in the fields of medicine, health, and nutritional, environmental and agricultural science of a breadth and depth that reflects demand at any given time. The services and conditions it offers are designed to fully satisfy its customers' needs. With the goal of faithfully fulfilling its mandate and safeguarding and consolidating its leading position, the ZB MED aims to cooperate with strategically important partners and steadily globalize its services.
