A historical overview of Serial Publication Union Catalogs Service of National Medical Science Information Center/National Library of Medicine was proposed. The data sources for historical notes were obtained using personal testimonies and bibliography review. The development and course of this service was provided with emphasis on the period that marked changes or challenges for the development of this service, mainly from the insertion of new management technologies. The union catalogs is an essential tool to locate biomedical serial publications in the country and also to obtain statistical data on their use, useful for the arrangement of information sources selection and acquisition in the National Medical Sciences Information System.