BETHESDA, Md. — The National Library of Medicine, built during the height of the Cold War, was designed to protect books, documents, and public information from just about anything — even the fallout of a nuclear disaster. Today the current director thinks the library can be a beacon of transparency and openness in an era full of concerns about threats to public information.
NLM Director Patricia Brennan, who heads the $1 billion agency, vows the world’s largest biomedical library will continue to take steps to make data “open and accessible” at a time when the Trump administration has clamped down on making some information available to the public.
“The library is a safe harbor for information,” Brennan told STAT. “We are counted on to openly curate the important health knowledge of an era — and preserve it across eras.”
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect