The goal of the NNLM is to advance the progress of medicine and improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving individuals' access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health.

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) office for Region 6 is located at Hardin Library for the Health Sciences at the University of Iowa. By collaborating, training, and funding over 1,100 health centers, health departments, community organizations, as well as medical, public, and school libraries in a seven state region, the office supports the mission of the NNLM: to provide U.S. researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data.