InfoFair
'98 DEEMED A SUCCESS
InfoFair
'98 DEEMED A SUCCESS
THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS (CDSR) NOW IN CINAHL
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is
a rapidly growing collection of regularly updated systematic reviews of
the effects of health care. It is prepared by contributors to the
Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of individuals committed
to 'preparing, maintaining, and disseminating systematic reviews
of the effects of health care'. The records are assigned the document/
publication types software, systematic review, and research, and any others
that may apply to each review.
The CDSR is now available in CINAHL and is
updated quarterly. There are currently over 200 CDSR references in CINAHL.
To search use "Cochrane" in the source index and combine with the subject.
Only the current reviews will be indexed for inclusion in the CINAHL database.
SUMMER HOURS
Beginning June 11 the Campus site will observe the following hours for Summer Quarter.
SUMMER PLANS
The University of South Alabama will be hosting some special student groups this summer. A Summer Research Program for incoming COM Freshmen, the High School Research Program for Disadvantaged Students, and the BEAR (Biomedical Enrichment and Recruitment) program are all featured. Look for some young faces in the library this summer.
KUDOS TO DOCUMENT DELIVERY
The Medical Library at the UAB School of Medicine, Huntsville Program recently sent a letter commending the efficiency and reliability of the USA Biomedical Library Document Delivery Department. In the letter, it was noted that "of all the libraries supplying document delivery service to us, your staff is the best!"
SYSTEMS UPDATE
The Biomedical Library has finished its conversion from
Token-Ring to Switched Fast Ethernet at the Campus site, and will convert
the UMC site sometime this Summer. Once this was finished, we were able
to install the new Citrix Winframe server which allows us to centralize
all Windows and DOS software installations, i.e. software no longer has
to be installed on each and every machine that uses it, and any machine,
even a 286 with only 1 meg of memory, can now run Windows95 and NT software.
This also means that all software will be taken off individual machines
and will be installed on the Citrix server, making software maintenance
and upgrades a much easier and faster job.
Now that the Citrix Winframe server and Ethernet
are in place, we are able to move ahead with the JavaStation conversion,
which should be finished by the end of June. The new JavaStations (and
the current PC's running JavaOS) will run HotJavaViews, which is a Java
package which includes the HotJava browser, an email program, telnet, a
calendar program, and a user database lookup. The calendar program will
allow all users to overlay their calendar with that of any other users,
thereby greatly expediting setting up of meetings and appointments.
Along with the implementation of the JavaStations
will come a new login procedure for all -- the current Novell logins will
be gone, and there will be a new login name for everyone except COM students
who will continue to use their present USA Ovid account name for all access.
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOMEPAGE UPDATE
The USA Biomedical Library homepage has recently added
more fulltext electronic journals. Check out the 'Annual Review'
series at http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/e-jour.htm
Some of our recent additions to fulltext electronic journals
are: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of General
Physiology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, and Journal of Pharmacology
and Experimental Therapeutics. These electronic journals are available
from any hardwired computer on campus with World Wide Web access.
Expect to see lots of changes in the Biomedical Library homepage before
Fall!
COOKIES
Cookies are small text files that a web site can use to
'recognize' a visitor to their site. They are contained on the harddrive
of the user's machine and when a site is visited that uses cookies, the
site checks for a line in the cookie file that lets the site know whether
this person has visited before.
What happens next depends on what type of cookie file
it is. Some cookie files contain password information so a user does
not have to fill out an information form each time they visit or even enter
a password and ID. A cookie may be created if a user has a preference
about seeing a site in frames or without frames. Since the cookie file
is stored on the harddrive of the machine being used at the time, the cookie
can't work if the user changes machines.
Many cookie files are used for advertisements. On
search engines, if a user searches for information on a particular topic
(cancer, for example) the advertisement that shows up during that visit
or the next visit may be a hospital or clinic that deals with cancer.
There is a site called DoubleClick that uses cookies in
a slightly different way, that some people find objectionable. Double
click creates a cookie file when you visit a site that uses ‘doubleclick'
advertisements. When you visit a different site that uses the same
advertisement program, the original cookie is edited to include the new
information. This information is stored and shared by all of these
sites and their marketing folks. They say they do not collect any
personal information (name, phone, address, etc.) but collect specific
information that may be of use to advertisers (state, zip code, interests,
domain name, organization name, etc.). DoubleClick says it provides
a service by limiting the number of times a particular user sees the same
advertisement. They also have an 'opt-out' cookie so their other
cookie won't work if a user objects to them.
Other cookies track where a user visits on a web page
to see what pages are of the most interest, how long people visit a particular
page, and where they usually go next.
Cookies are not necessarily bad, but it is good to recognize
that the ads that come up at certain sites are a result of the last search
a user performed or even what directories were looked at during the last
visit.
Some good sites to visit for more information on cookies:
THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE HANDBOOK AVAILABLE ON HEALTHGATE
Information on common and less common medical procedures
are covered in the Diagnostic Procedure Handbook which is now available
with a key word index via the HealthGate webpage, http://www.healthgate.com/HealthGate/free/dph/html/dph.shtml.
It is divided into two primary sections: (1) Clinical Procedures and (2)
Imaging Procedures. Major diagnostic disciplines in each section and the
related procedures within the specified discipline are listed alphabetically.
Listed under Clinical Procedures are: allergy/rheumatology and infectious
disease, cardiology, critical care, gastroenterology, nephrology/urology
and hematology, neurology, ophthalmology, pulmonary function, and pulmonary
medicine. Listed under Imaging Procedures are: radiology, computed tomography,
invasive and radiology, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine.
Other free pages available on the HealthGate webpage include
Doodys Review Service, Healthy Living, Healthy Eating, Healthy Parenting,
Healthy Sexuality, and Healthy Woman.
BIOMEDICAL LIBRARY CLASSES - SUMMER QUARTER 1998
The following classes, scheduled for July through September 1998, are open to University faculty, staff, and students and SOUTHmed members for searching MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Core Biomedical Collection, the PDR Electronic Library and Stat-Ref. Friday classes at the Campus site focus on using CINAHL for nursing information, but may change to MEDLINE according to demand. NOTE: No classes will be held July 3 or Sept 7.
OVID MEDLINE, CINAHL, CORE BIOMEDICAL COLLECTION, PDR Electronic Library and Stat-Ref:
Biomedical Library Campus Site
Tuesdays 10:00am-11:30am
Wednesdays 3:00pm-4:30pm
Fridays 4:00pm-5:30pm (CINAHL)
Biomedical Library Medical Center Site (UMC) 1st Monday
3:00pm-4:00pm(PDR/Stat-Ref)
Tuesdays 3:00pm-4:30pm (OVID)
Wednesdays 10:00am-11:30am (OVID)
INTERNET RESOURCES
This class is designed to give basic knowledge for using
the Internet in medical research. Classes may be geared to using e-mail
or the World Wide Web as tools at the request of students. E-mail classes
demonstrate the use of Pine mailer commands, netiquette, and discussion
groups. World Wide Web classes include surfing and searching using a networked
browser. This session will cover using various search engines such as Yahoo,
Webcrawler, Lycos and InfoSeek to find medical resources on the Internet.
It is with deep regret that the Biomedical Library announces
the retirement of Pat Rodgers. Pat has worked for the Biomedical
Library for 22 years in a variety of positions. She has joined Harrassowitz
as Director of Library Services for North America, opening an office for
the organization in Mobile.
Judy Burnham has moved to the Campus site and has been
named Assistant Director for Administrative and Regional Services and Jie
Li has been named UMC Site Coordinator.
Geneva Bush served as Registrar for the recent annual
meeting of the Alabama Library Association which was held at the Grand
Hotel.
At the annual meeting of the Medical Library Association,
which was held in Philadelphia in May, Tom Williams served as chair of
the Awards Committee, Pat Rodgers assumed responsibility for the Credentialing
Committee and Judy Burnham assumed responsibility as Chair of the Nursing
and Allied Health Resource Section. Pat and Judy attended the Leadership
Institute, which was held for those assuming leadership responsibility
in MLA. At the meeting, MLA began celebrating its Centennial.
Judy Burnham served as a co-advisor for a research project
in the Physical Therapy Department, conferring with a group of students
on a study that evaluated the use of listservs by physical therapists.
The Watercolor and Graphics Arts Society of Mobile awarded
first place in its annual spring exhibition to Lynda Touart for her pen
and ink drawing, "The Love Between the Sun and the Sea". Linda is
a Medical Illustrator in the Department of Media Production Services.
MEDICAL CLIP ART AND MULTIMEDIA
Need some clip art to liven up that handout or slide? Several sites are available via the Internet that provide clip art, some without charge.
INTERNET WORKSHOP FOR PHYSICIANS
Sponsored by the USA College of Medicine,
the USA Biomedical Library and the Medical Society of Mobile
County
July 15, 1998 (Wed) 5:15pm-10:00pm
July 18, 1998 (Sat) 8:00am-12:45pm
DONATIONS
The following individuals have donated materials to the Biomedical Library in the last few months. These materials have helped to expand the collection and have replaced some missing journal issues.
Medicine on the Net, a monthly publication
received at both sites of the Biomedical Library, covers timely issues
and websites. Recent issues have covered evidence based medicine,
patient education, use of computers by physicians, disease state management,
healthcare fraud, and global medicine. Each issue also includes information
on websites of note. The journal is a very good way to keep current
on issues related to healthcare and the Internet. The most recent
issue can be found in the Current Journal section at both the Campus and
UMC sites.
Some web sites noted in recent issues include:
To make comments, suggestions, or get more information, send email to medlib@jaguar1.usouthal.edu or call (334)-414-8210.
University of South Alabama Biomedical Library
Revised: 1/8/01