Within the subject parameters of these guidelines, NLM strives to assemble an exhaustive collection of significant published monographic works that contain original thought or research and that potentially are of international interest, regardless of language or country of origin. The Library also maintains an extensive collection of other monographic works that support U.S. clinical practice and education of U.S. health professionals; and those that uniquely characterize the medical thought and practice of a particular country, culture, or movement. In some disciplines, such as the history of medicine, bioethics, medical humanities and many interdisciplinary fields, the monograph is especially important as a vehicle of scholarly communication, and NLM accordingly collects monographic works at the highest level of intensity. In the basic sciences, which place greater emphasis on the scientific journal as the primary means of communication, the Library's monographic collection is very extensive, with collecting emphasis on works of research and educational value to U.S. health professionals and biomedical researchers. The Library of Congress maintains a comprehensive collection of monographic literature in science and technology, excluding clinical medicine.