PubMed, Internet Grateful Med, and Ovid: a comparison of three MEDLINE Internet interfaces

Three MEDLINE Internet interfaces are compared: PubMed, Internet Grateful Med, and Ovid MEDLINE. Although these interfaces all search MEDLINE, significant differences exist in terms of their search interfaces, presentation of results, and special features. This paper examines these variations and explores some of the advantages and disadvantages of the three interfaces.     

Retrieval comparison of EndNote to search MEDLINE (Ovid and PubMed) versus searching them directly

Using EndNote version 7.0, the authors tested the search capabilities of the EndNote search engine for retrieving citations from MEDLINE for importation into EndNote, a citation management software package. Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed were selected for the comparison. Several searches were performed on Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed using EndNote as the search engine, and the same searches were run on both Ovid and PubMed directly. Findings indicate that it is preferable to search MEDLINE directly rather than using EndNote. The publishers of EndNote do warn its users about the limitations of their product as a search engine when searching external databases. In this article, the limitations of EndNote as a search engine for searching MEDLINE were explored as related to MeSH, non-MeSH, citation verification, and author searching.     

Comparison of CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases for the nurse researcher

The purpose of this research was to determine which of three databases, CINAHL, EMBASE or MEDLINE, should be accessed when researching nursing topics. The three databases were searched for citations on topics selected by three nurse researchers and the results were compared. For the search of nursing care literature on a medical condition, it was helpful to search both CINAHL and MEDLINE. CINAHL provided the majority of relevant articles for the second search, on computers and privacy, but inclusion of MEDLINE and EMBASE enhanced retrieval somewhat. The search on substance abuse in pregnancy, not restricted to nursing literature, retrieved better results when searching both MEDLINE and EMBASE. Due to the nature and distribution of the nursing literature, it is especially important for the searcher to understand and respond to the focus of the researcher.     

The review article in MEDLINE: ambiguity of definition and implications for online searchers

The definition of a "review article" is examined from the viewpoints of the National Library of Medicine and of the patron. Implications of the differing interpretations of "review article" are discussed and possible alternative online search strategies are presented.     

Evaluating medical student searches of MEDLINE for evidence-based information: process and application of results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adequacy of the MEDLINE instruction routinely given to all entering medical students at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the ability of students to search effectively for and retrieve evidence-based information for clinical decision making by the end of their third-year. METHODOLOGY: The authors developed and implemented a strategy for evaluating the search strategies and articles selected by third-year students, who participated in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in June 1996, 1997, and 1998, and reviewed the literature on evidence-based medicine and evaluation of medical student searches. RESULTS: A mean of 5% of the students' search strategies and a mean of 26% of articles selected were ranked "excellent" or "good"; a mean of 26% of search strategies were ranked "fair" and a mean of 69% were ranked "poor"; and a mean of 22% of articles selected were ranked "fair" and a mean of 52% were ranked "poor" based on the strategy developed to evaluate student searches. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating medical student searches for evidence-based information is an effective way of evaluating students' searching proficiency, and, in turn, the adequacy of the instruction they receive. Based on the results of the OSCE test, the school of medicine expanded the library's educational role and the library implemented major changes in the training program. Information on evidence-based medicine is now incorporated into the MEDLINE instruction. Library faculty evaluate the required searches performed by students for evidence-based information during their first and second years; 30% of students are identified for follow-up, individualized instruction based on the evaluation; and a new case-based curriculum has been proposed with a fourteen-week problem-based learning (PBL) block. These developments are timely in light of the evidence-based competencies recently published by the Association of American Medical Colleges.     

Web-based distance continuing education: a new way of thinking for students and instructors

As people have more difficulty taking time away from work to attend conferences and workshops, the idea of offering courses via the Web has become more desirable. Addressing a need voiced by Medical Library Association membership, the authors developed a Web-based continuing-education course on the subject of the librarian's role in evidence-based medicine. The aim of the course was to provide medical librarians with a well-constructed, content-rich learning experience available to them at their convenience via the Web. This paper includes a discussion of the considerations that need to be taken into account when developing Web-based courses, the issues that arise when the information delivery changes from face-to-face to online, the changing role of the instructor, and the pros and cons of offering Web-based versus traditional courses. The results of the beta test and future plans for the course are also discussed.     

Web-based Loansome Doc, librarians, and end users: results from a survey of the Southeast Region

OBJECTIVES: The study examines how Loansome Doc services are implemented and used by libraries in the Southeast Region and describe end users' experiences with and attitudes toward Loansome Doc. METHODS: 251 active DOCLINE libraries and 867 Loansome Doc users were surveyed. RESULTS: Roughly one half of the libraries offered Loansome Doc services. Of those that did not, most indicated no plans to offer it in the future. The majority had a small number of end users and experienced minimal increases in interlibrary loan activity. Problems were relatively rare. Satisfaction with Loansome Doc was high among all types of libraries. End users were usually physicians or other health care professionals who requested articles for research and patient care. Most learned about Loansome Doc through PubMed or Internet Grateful Med. End users appeared to be largely self-taught or received informal instruction in Loansome Doc. Loansome Doc filled document requests in a timely manner, and end users reported being satisfied with the service. CONCLUSIONS: Greater promotion of what Loansome Doc is and how it can benefit libraries can increase the number of participating libraries. While satisfaction of Loansome Doc end users is high, satisfaction could be increased with more help on the PubMed screen, more library training, and faster delivery methods.     

A Comparison of OCLC,WLN, and RLIN for Public Services:

Libraries have become dependent upon large bibliographic networks like OCLC, RLIN and WLN to support their technical service functions. These databases have become increasingly important to public service librarians as well. A comparison of these systems is presented with an emphasis upon features of particular interest to public service librarians. The composition of the databases, indexing and searching are discussed. Special features each system offers to support public services are detailed. Costs and available documentation are also presented.     

ICT,public values and transformative government: A framework and programme for research

Many adjectives are used in the context of transforming government including making it more open, transparent, participative, agile, responsive and so forth. Most, if not all, of these adjectives are either in themselves public values or reflect one or more underlying public values. This paper examines the relationship between information and communications technology (ICT), transformative government and such public values and proposes a framework for further research. A study of the literature on public values is used to develop a typology of public sector values likely to be affected by ICT. This impact is examined for a number of these values. For others hypotheses about the impact of ICT on other values are then posited. It is argued that ICTs can and do have transformational impacts on public values, though not always for the better, concludes that values are a potential powerful lens for considering such impacts and sets out a programme of research into these relationships.     

Advance Contracting,Word-of-Mouth,and New-Product Success in Creative Industries: A Quantification for Books

The odds of success in creative industries (e.g., book, music, or movie) are often said to be particularly low. Furthermore, due to the nature of advance contracting between creator and producer, the standard approach to use sales as a success measure can be misleading from the producer's perspective. This article presents a novel approach to empirically identify producer success by incorporating the standard terms of contract between creator and producer into a parsimonious model of information diffusion (word-of-mouth) about new products. The model is applied to weekly sales data for a representative sample of novels. Estimation results indicate a success rate between 10% and 15% for this market.     

Redesigning Services for the Net-Gen and Beyond: A Holistic Review of Pedagogy,Resource, and Learning Space

Oblinger and Oblinger (2005) described the Net Generation or Net Gen, who have never known life without the Internet. They note the incremental nature of change: “One generation's technology is taken for granted by the next” (p. 2.1). In a world increasingly dominated by technology, the academic library has become a place to learn that is constantly adapting and changing, reflecting “what the student does” (Biggs, 2007 Biggs, J. 2007. Teaching for quality learning at university: what the student does, , 3rd ed, Maidenhead: Open University Press.  [Google Scholar]). Pathfinder funding from the Higher Education Academy has enabled Bournemouth University (BU) to explore the pedagogies of learning in a hybrid environment and consider how Web 2.0 technologies within a virtual learning environment contribute to the acquisition and development of academic literacy skills. Good library design demonstrates agility and adaptability in the use of space (Heppel et al., 2004 Heppel, S., Chapman, C., Millwood, R., Constable, M. and Furness, J. 2004. Building learning futures. A research project at Ultralab within the CABE/RIBA “Building Futures” programme 〈http://rubble.heppell.net/cabe/final_report.pdf〉 (accessed 24 July 2008) [Google Scholar]). Virtual environments enable integration of resources within the unit of study. Subject librarians, academics, and learning technologists are developing new ways of working together to deliver resources. The rate of change is exponential but is full of opportunity (“Libraries Unleashed,” 2008). In 2009 Bournemouth University will open a new library for postgraduate business students without any books, but with each student equipped with an e-book reader. This article will discuss the academic skills and learning spaces students will need to read for a degree in an environment that is predominantly electronic.     

Open data policies,their implementation and impact: A framework for comparison

In developing open data policies, governments aim to stimulate and guide the publication of government data and to gain advantages from its use. Currently there is a multiplicity of open data policies at various levels of government, whereas very little systematic and structured research has been done on the issues that are covered by open data policies, their intent and actual impact. Furthermore, no suitable framework for comparing open data policies is available, as open data is a recent phenomenon and is thus in an early stage of development. In order to help bring about a better understanding of the common and differentiating elements in the policies and to identify the factors affecting the variation in policies, this paper develops a framework for comparing open data policies. The framework includes the factors of environment and context, policy content, performance indicators and public values. Using this framework, seven Dutch governmental policies at different government levels are compared. The comparison shows both similarities and differences among open data policies, providing opportunities to learn from each other's policies. The findings suggest that current policies are rather inward looking, open data policies can be improved by collaborating with other organizations, focusing on the impact of the policy, stimulating the use of open data and looking at the need to create a culture in which publicizing data is incorporated in daily working processes. The findings could contribute to the development of new open data policies and the improvement of existing open data policies.