New MEDLINE Website and Policy Updates

On February 10^th, 2021, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) launched a new MEDLINE website that provides a consolidated location for information regarding MEDLINE policies, history, statistics, and the MEDLINE journal selection and review processes. The website was developed in alignment with the NLM Strategic Plan 2017-2027: A Platform for Biomedical Discovery and Data-Powered Health goal of reaching more people in more ways through enhanced dissemination and engagement. Currently indexed MEDLINE journals and publishers, as well as MEDLINE applicants, are strongly encouraged to review the website.

In addition to providing codified information about existing MEDLINE policies and processes, the website includes two policy changes that will become effective on March 1^st, 2021. NLM has updated MEDLINE’s policy on journal access and preservation requirements, previously outlined in the MEDLINE Policy on Indexing Electronic Journals. NLM has also updated MEDLINE’s language policy. The policy changes are important to enhancing the indexing of MEDLINE articles with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH indexing), facilitating automated indexing, extending the accessibility of MEDLINE journal content to a wider potential readership, and ensuring that the public will have permanent access to all articles indexed for MEDLINE.

Questions or Comments?

Journals with questions or comments about these changes are encouraged to write to the NLM Support Center with the subject line: "MEDLINE Website." We also encourage journals and publishers to periodically visit the pages, as they may be updated over time.