UMN: Bio-Med Library - School of Dentistry

As of March 20, the “Attachments” option has been enabled for all University of Minnesota RefWorks accounts. The attachment feature enables users to attach files to their references in their personal database, much like attaching files to an email message. The incorporation of this feature allows users to upload files to existing references stored within their RefWorks database. With the availability of this feature RefWorks users can instantly save and retrieve all forms of data within their database including BMP, TIF, JPG, PNG, GIF, PDF, and much more.

A few things to know:
· Default storage space setting is 100MB, per account.
· Additional space can be allocated on an account-by-account basis up to a maximum of 200MB per account. We are working with RefWorks to remove these limitations and expect some improvements with the August 2008 release of the software. Contact medref@umn.edu about increasing the space allocation for a particular account.
· There is no limitation on the number of attachments allowed per account or per record.
· A current maximum of 5MB limit per attachment is set, although we are working with RefWorks to address this limitation.
· As of now there is not a way to do a batch export of attachments, so if you want to get the attachments to a different account you’ll need to download each file individually. This is something to keep in mind if you anticipate wanting to move all your references to a different reference management program.

Contact the Reference Desk if you have any questions: 612-626-3260 or medref@umn.edu

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Bio-Medical Library subscribes to a an online resource called ExamMasterOnline, which provides exams and questions for medical student test review.

Recently, ExamMaster Online added over 2200 questions for board prep for the National Board Dental Exam, part 1. All faculty, staff, and students at the U can access this resource via our home page at: http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu. Once on our page, click on the letter 'E' from the A-Z list and select ExamMaster Online.

Users must set up a profile (come up with a separate username and password within the software) in order to run and save tests and questions. Once the profile is set, users can select Create Exams and then choose either Quick Start Exams or Custom Exams to go into the Dentistry question banks.

I'd be interested in any feedback from faculty or students about this resource. Please let me know if you have any questions about ExamMaster Online.

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The University Libraries' migration to the OvidSP platform, scheduled to occur Tuesday, 1/15, has been postponed for a week until Tuesday, 1/22. The short delay will give Ovid technical staff more time to work on the seamless transition to the new platform for current users who have saved searches.

As always, if you have any questions about this please contact me.

Lisa
612-626-3643
lmcguire@umn.edu

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OVID Technologies, the University Libraries platform for citation databases like MEDLINE, BIOSIS, and PsycINFO is making a major change to its search interface, called OvidSP. The University Libraries will be migrating to OvidSP the morning of Tuesday, January 15, 2008.

This new user interface features multiple search modes with classic features such as term Mapping, Explode, and Scope Notes carried over in the Ovid Syntax mode, while the Basic mode uses natural language searching which allows for searching across databases. Users will also notice an improved results display.

One of the major changes is that users will now need to create "personal accounts" in order to save searches or create AutoAlerts. On the day of the migration, current Ovid users with saved searches or AutoAlert SDIs will receive an Ovid system generated e-mail with their user names and temporary passwords to access their saved content. New users wishing to save their searches or to customize the user interface will have to create a new user account.

Try OvidSP, which can be previewed in the current interface and if you have questions or difficulties with the new OvidSP please send email medref@umn.edu (our email reference service), or call the Reference Desk at 612-626-3260.

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Bio-Medical Library has begun a pilot project answering reference questions via Instant Messaging (IM). Anyone with an AIM, MSN, Yahoo, or Google account can send our reference staff a question via IM.

This pilot project will run through December 2007. For more information on this service, or to send us a question, go to: this page

Alternatively, you can send a direct question to me via IM at any of my account names:

AIM: lmcguire301
Yahoo: lisa_mcguire301
MSN: lmcguire301@hotmail.com
Google: mcgulisa@gmail.com

Happy Instant Messaging!

Lisa

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In response to a request from an AHC student group for additional options for safe and comfortable study spaces, the Bio-Medical Library and AHC deans will conduct a pilot project to provide extended 24/7 access to a portion of the second (tunnel) level of the library in Diehl Hall. Beginning May 5th, after the library’s usual closing time, an area of the second floor will be accessible only to those who present a UCard. This area encompasses the public computers, some study tables, the small group study rooms, the casual seating near the entrance, and the rest rooms. There will be no library services, such as photocopying, printing, circulation, or reference assistance provided during these extended hours. There will also be no access to the print collection of journals and books in the stacks. Access control will be provided by a UM Security Monitor stationed at the entrance to the second level. The library is also in the process of adding security cameras which we expect to be installed during the summer. This pilot project will run through Fall 2007 finals, with progress evaluations of the project after Spring finals, May Session, Summer Session and Fall finals. Please direct any questions to Linda Watson (lwatson@umn.edu; 626-7039).

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Users of MICROMEDEX, the full-text drug information system, will notice a new interface as of August 7, 2006. You'll find the same reliable drug information, with a new look. The new interface offers several enhancements including improved navigation and new features to go along with the new look, such as:

Side-by-side comparisons of two drugs using Comparative Drug Summaries or Therapeutic Class
Improved Drug Identification (imprint, color, shape, pattern)
Expanded drug interactions tools (single and multiple interactions)
Enhanced keyword and full-text search capabilities (including word stems)
Persistent document outline for improved navigation
Navigation based on tabs and drop-down menus

MICROMEDEX is available from the Bio-Medical Library's homepage by choosing the MICROMEDEX Quick Link or clicking on "M" in the alphabetical listing of databases and indexes.

The Library has created a help guide for the new version of MICROMEDEX

If you have any questions about the new interface, or MICROMEDEX in general, feel free to contact me.

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

SOD Faculty/Staff/--

August is the time of year when librarians can add new journal titles, cancel titles, or add electronic access for new or existing subscriptions for the upcoming calendar year.

As part of this process, librarians at the Bio-Medical Library and the Veterinary Medicine Library are looking at their journal lists and identifying titles that we receive in both print and electronic formats, with the intention of cancelling print versions while maintaining (or sometimes enhancing) electronic access. This is being done to look for additional cost savings that can then be used to add additional electronic journals to the collections.

Continue reading "Dentistry Journals - Moving from Print to Electronic" »

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Libraries are currently conducting a trial of BioMedCentral’s "Faculty of 1000 Biology" and "Faculty of 1000 Medicine" products. These literature tools "highlight and review the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences and medicine, based on the recommendations of a faculty of well over 1000 selected leading researchers in each field." Currently 24 U of M faculty are F1000 reviewers.

The trials are available at www.f1000biology.com and www.f1000medicine.com through June 8.

Current users have found the Faculty of 1000 products useful in prioritizing their reading of the literature, particularly researchers entering interdisciplinary areas where they may be less familiar with "what’s important" in the crossover field. The products can also be a valuable tool in graduate and undergraduate education, helping to steer students towards high quality and/or novel articles for journal club presentations, class research papers, and other needs. The reviewer comments can also be helpful in demonstrating the peer review process, traditionally out of view of students and trainee scientists until they author papers.

In addition to searching for articles on the F1000 web sites, PubMed can now be set up to activate F1000 linkouts for articles which have been reviewed by F1000. For example, see this sample record. Use this link to PubMed to activate the F1000 links during your search session: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?otool=umnbmlib&holding=f1000

Please take a look at www.f1000biology.com and www.f1000medicine.com from on campus, and let us know what you think. Comments can be submitted to Kevin Messner at messn006@umn.edu.

(One access caveat ­ there have been some troubles accessing our trial of F1000 through a VPN over U of M wireless. Certainly this is something that would be hammered out if we purchase the product; for now, though, you may save yourself some trouble by accessing the trial site over a hard line on campus.)

Posted by Lisa McGuire at 03:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)