Help AMWA collect medical textbooks to send abroad.
Global Medical Libraries (GML), formerly Operation Medical Libraries, seeks to narrow the healthcare education gap in developing countries. GML was initiated by a request for assistance to the founder’s medical school alumni association: Would some graduates be able to donate unwanted textbooks to help doctors in Iraq? Expecting to receive perhaps a few boxes of key reference books and journals, the alum found herself coordinating with colleagues to receive over a ton of books and journals that supplied hospital and university libraries across the country!
In the years since, donations of health sciences resources by this grassroots project have filled critical voids in formal and continuing education–not only for doctors, but also nurses and other allied medical professionals. By helping these countries develop professionals, GML book donors serve to greatly improve healthcare in countries which are often too dangerous to visit by many besides the US military and Department of State personnel. The books are mailed directly from the American donor to the US government representative working with the local medical community. Since 2007, GML has coordinated donations topping $2.5 million in health science books to medical universities in 26 developing countries spread over 4 continents, at no expense to its recipients or its governments.
On April 4th Global Medical Libraries turns 10! To celebrate, GML is adopting its new name, Global Medical Libraries (GML); a name that better reflects the scope of the project and its continuing mission to improve global healthcare one book at a time.
A long-time GML partner, AWMA encourages members and branches to collect used medical books to send abroad. The books must be new or gently used, contain current information, and be no more than five years old. For additional information on how to donate, please see the website: www.globalmedicallilbraries.org or email info@globalmedicallibraries.org
