E. Languages English is the primary language of the collection. Works in Western European languages and in Russian are occasionally collected if especially needed, with English translations being preferred if available. F. Treatment Monographs, serials, reference works, handbooks, manuals, and conference proceedings are collected. Some microformats are acquired as needed. Primarily print for monographs and most journals, though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals.
Bibliographic databases are available through the Internet.
Other subscriptions are maintained to support research. Some annual reviews and similar materials, including important monographic series are received on standing order. Gifts are accepted and added to the collection as appropriate. Retrospective collecting is little emphasized in a fast moving field such as medicine, but is done as appropriate. Important agencies include the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, and the U.K. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.