ISI is now serving up a version of MEDLINE on its Web of Science website. It is part of the drop down menu on the top. We will not at this time be providing a link on our website or catalog to this link, but we will also not be asking ISI to supress the link either. Initial examination shows some pros and cons of the search interface and in a nut shell, does not offer up anything really new in searching MEDLINE.
Highlights --
There are three different search interfaces (1) a simple search that is a single search box. This appears on the welcome page. (2) General search. This search includes search boxes labeled Topic, MeSH Heading, Author, Source Title, Publication Year, Address, Chemical, Identifying Codes. On this page is also a "restrick search by .." section that includes the limits from the limits section on PubMed, but greatly expands the options within the categories (beyond what PubMed allows on its limits page) -- but fewer limit options than what Ovid has on its limits page. (3) Advanced Search. This is a command line/field tagged search.
Some initial findings --
Discovered that when using the MeSH Heading search box, it does not map to MeSH headings. If you put in an incorrect heading, it just tells you that it doesn't exist, no suggestions about possible headings -- even if you have all the words right, but just in the wrong order.
On the other hand, if you just use the Topic search box, it has a radio button to map to MeSH headings and it does. There is a link to a "thesaurus" on the MeSH Heading search box.
Play around with it and see what you think. Is it worthwhile to let are patrons know about it?
Katherine
Posted by biomedref at March 2, 2006 08:59 AM