NRCBL: About the NRCBL

Library and Information Services, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University

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About the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature

History

The Ethics Library was established at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics in 1973 with funding from the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation to support research projects at the Institute, such as the first edition of the Encyclopedia of Bioethics and the NLM-sponsored compilation of the annual Bibliography of Bioethics and its counterpart database, BIOETHICSLINE®.

In 1985 this growing information resource was awarded a competitive five year grant by the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health to become the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature (NRCBL), dedicated to collecting and organizing the burgeoning bioethics literature, and providing reference services. The original grant was extended for three years, and eventually converted to an NLM contract that continues today.

The library holdings represent the world's largest collection related to ethical issues in medicine and biomedical research. This collection functions both as a reference library for the public and as an in depth research resource for scholars from the U.S. and abroad. The ongoing federal support allows NRCBL to continue its mission to provide in-depth bioethical information for all.

Library Collection

Books: Over 28,000 volumes about ethical and bioethical subjects, including access to health care, resource allocation, genetics, human experimentation, reproductive technologies, abortion, and death and dying. Holdings include hearings and reports of the U.S. Congress, as well as reports by international commissions and documents from around the world. These materials can be found in ETHXWeb, the bibliographic database created and maintained by the NRCBL. Collection development is guided by the NRCBL Collection Development Manual.

Journals: Over 400 current periodicals and newsletters on ethical theory and professional ethics in many disciplinary fields. Over 300 other periodicals for which the publication or library subscription has ceased.

Articles: Over 215,000 journal and newspaper articles are organized under 22 main categories concerning bioethics and biomedical topics. The files include laws, regulations, and court decisions.

Archives: Correspondence, memoranda and other documents from the U.S. President's Commission on Ethical Problems in Biomedical Research and other official bodies concerned with bioethics. Materials relating to the early history and ongoing ethical and legal aspects of the Human Genome Project are also being collected.

Audiovisuals: A non-circulating collection of almost 400 audiovisuals which may be viewed at the library. Topical searching is available (ordering/purchase information can be provided) as is a list of the audiovisuals we hold. See also Scope Note #9 "Bioethics Audiovisuals." For further information, contact Audiovisual Curator.

Special Collections: The NRCBL houses the following special collections:

Last updated: January 2009