Toward a virtual library: Internet and the
National Research and Education Network. In C.
This article describes five programs that have been particularly significant to the evolution of biomedical communications over the last twenty years: the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM), Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS), the
National Research and Education Network (NREN), the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS), and the electronic journal.
The two recommendations that rank at the top of the fifteen recommendations for priority action address the vitally important focus on: (1) children and youth through support of the Omnibus Children and Youth Initiative, and (2) the funding of the
National Research and Education Network (NREN) that would serve as an information "superhighway" allowing educational institutions, including all libraries, to capitalize on the advantages of technology for resource sharing and the creation and exchange of information.
Most of the Arab countries have already started developing their national research and education e-Infrastructures by establishing
National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) to interconnect research and education institutions so that researchers, academics and students can collaborate, access and share resources, conduct joint research and educational activities.
ASREN is the association of the Arab region
National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), as well as their strategic partners that aim to implement, manage and extend sustainable Pan-Arab e-Infrastructures dedicated for the research and education communities and to boost scientific research and cooperation in member countries through the provision of world-class e-Infrastructures and e-services.