Check out the new Advanced Search for NCBI, including PubMed. The link is immediately to the right of the main search box on the main search screen. It includes two distinct fields for searching by journal, author or other field types selected from the pull down menus. One can also add additional search fields, which is handy. It is possible to browse alphabetically by journal or author name. Looks like it is also possible to combine set numbers in the main search box on this screen (e.g., #1 AND #3). One can also lock or clear individual limits, rather than having to clear all limits. Please note that the search history displayed here only displays the most recent five searches. To see the entire search history on the Advanced Search screen, you will need to click on See More History.
I'll have to spend some more time working with these features to see how well they work in practice, but I am already pleased that there is finally something on the main PubMed search screen that lets folks know that a more advanced way of searching exists at all.
For more information, please see the NLM Technical Bulletin.
Martha
OCLC and Google to exchange data, link digitized books to WorldCat
"OCLC and Google Inc. have signed an agreement to exchange data that will facilitate the discovery of library collections through Google search services.Under terms of the agreement, OCLC member libraries participating in the Google Book Searchâ„¢ program, which makes the full text of more than one million books searchable, may share their WorldCat-derived MARC records with Google to better facilitate discovery of library collections through Google....
Google recently released an API that provides links to books in Google Book Search using ISBNs, LCCNs and OCLC numbers. This API allows WorldCat.org users to link to some books that Google has scanned through a “Get It� link. The link works both ways. If a user finds a book in Google Book Search, a link can often be tracked back to local libraries through WorldCat.org...."
To read the rest of this press release, please click here.
I love that Google and OCLC continue to work together to create links that remind Google users about items their libraries own. Now, if we could only get links to full text available via Google Books into MNCAT, that would be really something.
Cheers,
Martha
Hi Everyone,
You might have already noticed an oddity in how items are displayed in MNCAT, items are displaying in chronological order starting with the oldest volume on. This was the result of a bug in an Aleph service pack that was applied over the weekend. LEO reported this problem to Ex Libris when they were testing the service pack, and went ahead with the service pack because of a number of fixes/upgrades for ILL and acquisitions. Ex Libris notified LEO yesterday afternoon that the fix for the item display will not be available until the next service pack, which may not be for another three months since they are issued quarterly.
This display issue may not be a hindrance for some titles, but for the long runs that we have remember that you can use the drop down boxes in MNCAT to display by year and/or volume. This will help with large titles such as Nature, Science, JAMA, etc. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
-Nicole
Today, Judy called my attention to a new special query in PubMed for Health Disparities (see May 8 post on the NLM Technical Bulletin). Since there was not a MeSH term for either Healthcare Disparties or Health Status Disparities until 2008, it is potentially very handy to have this special query available.
Keep in mind, however that this search strategy is extremely broad (it retrieves over 57,000 citations), so you will need to AND it in with more specific criteria, such as population, condition, intervention, etc. Also, Lisa suggests that you consider using it as a starting point and maybe cutting and pasting only the portions of the search strategy that you need into PubMed. To see the entire search strategy, click here.
Hope this information is helpful,
Martha
As you know, we have been using Pidgin as our IM client on the ref-b workstation for the Bio-Med Instant messaging reference service. As of today, the Pidgin on that particular workstation is mysteriously kaput. Before we spend a bunch of time trying to troubleshoot this problem, Lisa and I are reconsidering for a variety of reasons whether we should use Meebo as our IM client instead of Pidgin. So, for the time being, please make sure that we are logged into the Meebo ummedref account when you are at the reference desk. If you need the login information, please see: O:\Reference\IM\Medref IM Account Information.doc. And stayed tuned for exciting updates regarding the IM reference service!
Please see Lisa or me with questions.
Thanks,
Martha
Check out the recent multilingual additions to MedlinePlus! They don't necessarily jump out at you, so take a look at this description to see what's available and how to access it. Very cool! -Liz
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MedlinePlus has a multilingual feature, providing access to high quality health information in languages other than English and Spanish. This new service benefits people who prefer to read consumer health information in their native language. It also helps the information professionals and health care providers who serve them.
The new collection contains over 2,500 links to information in more than 40 languages and covers nearly 250 Health Topics. Continuous growth is expected.
Users can navigate the new collection of health information in multiple languages either by language or by topic. A page listing all of the languages covered is on the MedlinePlus homepage, in the list on the left side of the page. Users can browse these languages or link to the page listing all of the topics covered.
Also, on individual English language health topics pages, a "languages" box appears on the right side of the page. The languages box lists the languages with links on that topic in MedlinePlus. The languages box also links users to the collection of health information in multiple languages. Users can also search the new collection of health information in multiple languages. Additionally, a new collection called Multiple Languages appears on the MedlinePlus search results pages.
The MedlinePlus collection of health information in multiple languages is not meant to be comprehensive. Instead, as with our English and Spanish collections, MedlinePlus staff selects materials according to our quality guidelines (quality guidelines specific to the new collection are available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/criteria.html).
As always, NLM welcomes your comments and suggestions about MedlinePlus. A Contact Us link appears at the top of every MedlinePlus page.
Here's some information regarding our trial subscription to RefAware (RefWorks' current awareness service which runs through 5/17/2008:
Thank you for your interest in RefAware, the web-based current awareness service which provides members of the academic community and other researchers with immediate access to the most up-to-date research and new publications in their fields. Your complimentary, organization- wide trial has been activated, and it will expire on 5/17/2008.
In an effort to assist you and your users in getting quickly started, below we have highlighted a number of key features of the service:
Creating an Account:
1. Go to: http://www.refaware.com
(Note: In order to sign-up for an Account, a first-time user must do so with an email address of the organization’s domain name.)
2. Click on Create a New Account.
3. Enter user information and create password.
4. Click on the Create Account button to finalize.
5. An email will be sent confirming registration.
Setting up User Profile:
Once the registered user has created an account, they can customize their “Account Preferences� under the User Profile area within the program. The preferences include the ability to:
* Change Password and Login Information
* Set-Up Email Alert Frequency
* Select Discipline Specific Coverage
* Link RefAware to a RefWorks Account.
* Change User Default Settings
The user is now ready to create their search strategies.
Creating Search Strategies:
· Click on Create Search Strategies, and then type in the Strategy Name.
· Select the first criterion (Term, Author or Journal) that you want to include in your strategy by clicking on the Search Criteria drop-down box. Enter the information in the text box.
· Click on Add Search Criteria. Your criteria will be displayed in the Criteria List. Add additional criteria by making a new selection in the Search Criteria drop-down box. Each line is separated by a logical “OR�; in other words, the results of your Strategy will include all articles that meet ANY of the criteria on individual lines of your strategy.
· Once you have completed your strategy, click the Save or Save & View Results button.
Further assistance on establishing search strategies can be found via online Help.