Network of the National Library of Medicine Regional Medical Libraries (UG4 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to operate Regional Medical Libraries within the National Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). Eligible applicants are health sciences libraries, hospital libraries, academic institutions, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations with institutional connections to health science information services.
Applicants must demonstrate strong competencies in building and managing long-term partnerships, deep understanding of biomedical information and data sciences, and established institutional connections with a health science library. Geographic scope covers the United States and its territories, organized into designated NNLM regions.
Funded projects support generating and maintaining engaged membership networks focused on biomedical health information dissemination, training, and data literacy. Activities include professional development for librarians, outreach through libraries and community organizations, promoting NLM and NIH resources, and fostering community engagement in clinical research participation.
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Key dates
- Feb 11, 2026 Applications open
- Dec 15, 2026 Application deadline in 152 days
- Jul 1, 2027 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for Regional Medical Libraries of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM).
Established in 1965 and organized geographically across the United States and its territories, the NNLM promotes and supports the initiatives, products, and services of the NLM and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over the years, the network has expanded its impact through strategic partnerships with a broad array of member organizations, including health sciences, hospital, academic, and public libraries; health professionals; data organizations; and community-based groups.
The NNLM’s core mission is to enable the effective use of—and contribution to—health information and data made available by the NLM and NIH. The network achieves this by providing professional development for librarians and information specialists, and by supporting access to health information and outreach through libraries and community organizations. A central emphasis of the NNLM is increasing awareness of and engagement with NIH programs and resources.
While the NNLM has traditionally focused on promoting NLM-specific products, it is now poised to expand its reach across the broader NIH community. The network will play a vital role in disseminating research findings, fostering community engagement and partnerships, and supporting participation in local clinical research. In doing so, the NNLM will enhance public understanding of NIH’s contributions and increase the use of NIH-supported information and data resources.
The NNLM consists of three major components: 1) the Network Coordinating Center (NCC), 2) Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs), and 3) the Network Training Center (NTC). This announcement specifically pertains to RMLs, with companion NOFOs forthcoming for the NCC and NTC.
The RMLs will be responsible for generating and maintaining an active, engaged membership of organizations focused on biomedical health information and data dissemination, training, and literacy. The RMLs will work with the NCC and NTC to promote the activities, products, and services of the NLM as well as the NIH. The RMLs will work with the NCC to evaluate progress, performance, and impact of the Network, including the use of common metrics (standardized measures collected and reported), as well as proposed site-specific goals. The RMLs will collaborate with the NTC to identify training needs and execute professional development or information access programming.
The RMLs should have strong competencies in building and managing long-term partnerships with groups and organizations, deep understanding of biomedical information and data sciences, and institutional connections with a health science library.
Grant authority that allows NLM to forecast this opportunity is as follows: Medical Library Assistance Act of 1965 (MLAA, P.L. 89-291).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative and Detailed Description
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Documentation (501c3 status or government designation)
- Letters of Support from Partner Organizations
- Curriculum Vitae or Key Personnel Documentation
- Evidence of Institutional Affiliation with Health Science Library
Program contact
- 👤 NLM Extramural Programs
- 📧 NLMProgram@nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.879 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$31,424,450
-
$21,310,613
-
$18,962,515
-
$18,266,443
-
$14,828,350
-
$14,642,836
-
$13,681,359
-
$13,351,995
-
$12,454,032
-
$11,107,283
Top States by Funding
- MA 9 awards $61.2M
- NY 12 awards $58.1M
- TN 3 awards $50.1M
- TX 4 awards $36.4M
- CA 9 awards $25.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.879). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $78,196,782 | |
| 2025 | $79,391,024 | |
| 2026 est. | $70,230,119 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for a Regional Medical Library award?
Health sciences libraries, academic libraries, hospital libraries, and nonprofit organizations with established institutional connections to health science services. Applicants must show strong partnership-building competencies and deep biomedical information expertise.
What is the funding level and project duration?
Award amounts reach approximately $600,000, though specific amounts vary by region. Project duration is not specified in this announcement.
What activities are supported by this grant?
Supported activities include building membership networks, professional development for librarians, promoting NLM and NIH resources, providing health information outreach, and supporting clinical research engagement in local communities.
Is cost sharing required?
No, cost sharing is not required for this grant.
How are Regional Medical Libraries organized geographically?
The NNLM is organized across the United States and its territories into designated geographic regions. Each region receives support for its Regional Medical Library operations.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's track record building and sustaining partnerships with diverse library and community organizations. Strong partnership examples strengthen competitiveness.
- Highlight institutional connections to health science services and existing relationships with health sciences libraries or academic medical centers. Demonstrate credibility in biomedical information.
- Clearly articulate your understanding of NLM and NIH resources and your ability to promote them effectively. Include specific examples of how you'll increase awareness among target audiences.
- Propose site-specific goals aligned with NNLM priorities while addressing local community needs. Use common metrics and standardized measures in your evaluation plans.
- Detail your collaboration approach with the Network Coordinating Center and Network Training Center. Show how you'll contribute to network-wide evaluation and professional development initiatives.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail to demonstrate clear institutional connections to established health science libraries or show weak biomedical information expertise. Vague partnership descriptions without specific evidence of sustained collaborations undermine proposals. Unclear plans for evaluating impact using standardized network metrics reduce competitiveness.
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