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Newsletter for the South Central Region
May 1 was the start of Year 04 of the five year, 2001-2006 RML Contract. Each year, we make our outreach plan available to the Network. It is located at: http://nnlm.gov/scr/outrch/outrch_narr04.htm. We have made our equipment and smaller funded awards available early in the year, with several due dates in July and one in August. Our larger funding award Request for Proposals (RFPs) will be advertised later in the year. Please feel free to contact me, or the respective Coordinator, about opportunities if you are interested, have questions or feedback. As always, if you do not see items or activities that you would like for us to consider, please send them to me. We are very interested in what the needs of the Region are, and welcome your input.
Network members who were unable to attend the annual Medical Library Association conference in Washington DC this year, or who missed some parts of the program, will have an opportunity to listen to the recorded sessions and presentations. The NN/LM SCR office will make the CD available for loan to NN/LM SCR members after it arrives and is processed. All of the recorded MLA sessions are available on a single CD, along with PowerPoint presentations where applicable.
We currently offer 19 classes as part of our education program. Please keep us in mind if we can assist you in your library or institution by providing continuing education to health professionals, librarians, or consumers. The classes are listed at: http://nnlm.gov/scr/edn/class.htm and a Request for Training form is located at: http://nnlm.gov/scr/edn/trainreq.htm. Additional classes will be created throughout the year, so please consult the list or our Coordinators to learn what is new and available to Network.
I have been appointed Chair of the NN/LM E-Licensing Working Group, by NLM. The Working Group was named by NLM in response to concerns expressed by RML Staff and Network members during NLM Site Visits. Two common concerns were voiced: "Challenges of negotiating electronic licensing agreements" and "restrictions the agreements impose upon NN/LM Network Members in providing both ILL service and direct document delivery to unaffiliated healthcare providers and consumers." The Working Group has been tasked with:
Marty Thompson, Director, Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK represents the South Central Region (SCR) on the Working Group. If you have responses to the tasks for your state, please contact Marty with your input.
The NN/LM SCR is very pleased to announce that the Access Library (AL) Subcontracts for Year 04 were awarded to:
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Medical Library
New Orleans, LA
Ethel Ullo Madden, DirectorSoutheast Louisiana AHEC
Learning Resource Center
Covington, LA
Helen Caruso, LibrarianSt. Edward Mercy Foundation Medical Center
Medical Library
Fort Smith, AR
Pat Morris, LibrarianUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Research Medical Library
Houston, TX
Kathy Hoffman, Executive Director
Congratulations to the new ALs! The NN/LM SCR office and the Region look forward to working with you. Full contact information can be found at: http://nnlm.gov/scr/outrch/acclist.htm.
NLM released a new design and modified organizational structure for its main website (http://www.nlm.nih.gov), on May 10, 2004. These changes are a result of extensive usability testing and consumer feedback. The new design retains many elements of the old site, but now features:
No URLs have changed as a result of the redesign, and the site downloads faster than before. For more information on features of the new design, see: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/about/nlmredesign.html. As always, NLM welcomes any comments and suggestions about its websites by email, custserv@nlm.nih.gov, or phone at 888-346-3656.
Several new resources from NLM's Specialized Information Services (SIS) highlight health issues pertaining to minority populations. Most recently released is the American Indian Health website (http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/); two resources that have been available for a while are Arctic Health (http://www.arctichealth.org/) and Asian American Health (http://asianamericanhealth.nlm.nih.gov/). Another resource, African American Health, is in development.
American Indian Health is designed to bring together health and medical resources pertinent to the American Indian population including policies, consumer health information, and research. The site includes statistics, publications and bibliographies, healthcare access information, links to Tribal websites, and links to sites covering specific health topics pertaining to American Indians, including those in MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov). A special section provides links to traditional healing information from a number of organizations such as the Association of American Indian Physicians, as well as a preformatted PubMed search on traditional healing. Also valuable are the environmental health links that are included, such as the EPA's American Indian Environmental Office.
Asian American Health is designed to increase public awareness of the health concerns of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Links are provided to an assortment of documents, websites, databases, and other resources. Here, you will find links to statistical information, specific health issues, information about different Asian-American groups, complementary and alternative medicine, and health organizations. There are several links to non-governmental organizations, such as The Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, an HIV/AIDS organization serving Asian and Pacific Islander populations, and Asian/Pacific Islander Women's Health at the National Women's Health Information Center.
According to the July 2003 Pew Internet and American Life study, Internet Health Resources (http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Health_Report_July_2003.pdf), 80% of adult American Internet users have searched online for health information, which is half of all adult Americans. Health seekers go online to:
They report that their health information and services improve and that their relationships with their doctors change as a result of information found on the Internet.
However, studies showing how consumers search the Internet show that Internet health seekers use search engines like Yahoo and Google almost exclusively for their research. According to a 2002 Pew Internet telephone survey, Vital Decisions: How Internet users decide what information to trust when they or their loved ones are sick, (http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Vital_Decisions_May2002.pdf), a typical seeker goes online without getting advice about where or how to search from anyone, including medical professionals or friends. They generally do not look beyond the first page of results, and often only at the first few links. Half of all health seekers rarely, if ever, check the source or date of the information they read online.
A study by Eysenbach and Köhler, How do consumers search for and appraise health information on the world wide web? (http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/324/7337/573) which tracks the search techniques of people doing online health research shows that, while online health seekers state that they are skeptical of online information, very few of them ever look at the "about us" section of the website or look to see what type of website they are selecting. Information is considered verified if it is found on a number of websites.
Furthermore, research done by Information Science students at Syracuse University in 2003, Search Engine Retrieval Effectiveness for Medical Information Queries (http://web.syr.edu/~gevander/), demonstrates that only 42% of the health websites found in Google searches had accurate and authoritative information. Other search engines' results had a much lower percentage of useful information.
Physicians and information professionals need to work together to ensure that patients searching for information on the Internet find accurate, authoritative, and up to date information. To this end, NLM and the American College of Physicians Foundation (ACPF) have teamed up to create the Information Rx Project that encourages physicians to refer their patients to MedlinePlus, as a trusted and reliable source of information on their health and medical conditions.
This initiative is an important effort by NLM and the ACPF to advance the goal of achieving a health literate population that is empowered to take an active and positive role in its health care, and to provide the nation's physicians with a valuable patient education tool that captures and filters the best health information available on the Internet.
In April 2004, the Information Rx Project was launched nationally at the American College of Physicians annual session in New Orleans, LA. This project uses innovative "Information Rx" prescription pads that doctors can use to prescribe that patients search MedlinePlus for their health questions.
In May 2004, the Information Rx Tool Kit for librarians was launched nationally at the Medical Libraries Association annual conference in Washington D.C. This tool kit is designed to assist librarians in any outreach efforts for the Information Rx Project.
You are invited to be a part of this important project. To learn more about the Project, the Tool Kit, and how your library can participate, please visit, http://nnlm.gov/hip/InfoRx/.
The DOCLINE presentation given during the NLM Online Users Update Sunrise Seminar at MLA 2004 is now available to view from the DOCLINE system page (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/docline/). The presentation highlights the accomplishments of the past year and outlines the plans for the coming year. Several projects are underway at NLM including testing of the ISO ILL protocol, extracting DOCLINE serial holdings in the MARC 21 format, and a redesign of the Loansome Doc document ordering system. The presentation includes a few screen shots of the planned new interface design for Loansome Doc.
NLM has released the following DOCLINE quarterly statistical reports:
January-March 2004:
1-1A, 1-11A, 1-1AT - Summary DOCLINE Borrower Statistics
1-1B - Summary DOCLINE Lender Statistics
1-2A, 1-22A - Detailed DOCLINE Borrower Statistics
1-2B - Detailed DOCLINE Lender Statistics
2-14 - Resource Library Quarterly Report - Fill Rate
5-1A - Loansome Doc Detailed Lender Statistics
5-1B - Loansome Doc Throughput Report
Please note that reports 1-11A, 1-1AT and 1-22A are only distributed to libraries that have entered requests in DOCLINE for other libraries. Report 2-14 is only distributed to resource libraries.
Users have access to the two most recent quarterly reports. The July-September 2003 DOCLINE quarterly statistical reports are no longer available. Instructions for downloading and printing reports may be found in the "Request Reports" section of the online manual (click the Help link at the top of the DOCLINE screen) or at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/faqdocline.html#reports.
NLM is currently working to implement the ISO ILL Protocol with DOCLINE. The ISO ILL protocol provides libraries with the ability to exchange messages (requests) between proprietary interlibrary loan systems. NLM plans to release the first protocol-compliant version of DOCLINE in late summer/early fall of 2004.
New Frequently Asked Questions on the DOCLINE/ISO ILL Protocol implementation are available on the NLM website at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/faqdocline.html#protocol.
Topics covered include:
As NLM continues with its implementation of the ISO ILL Protocol, the FAQs will be updated and new ones will be added. Libraries planning to use the ISO ILL Protocol with DOCLINE should check the FAQ page for new information.
The Department of Health Informatics at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, TX was recently awarded an NLM grant for a project entitled Using Citation Data to Improve Retrieval from MEDLINE. The project is based on the idea that World Wide Web algorithms can be successfully adapted to the combination of MEDLINE and the Science Citation Index (SCI) to improve information retrieval. The specific aims are to:
The computational framework will be enhanced to store statements of information need, queries and relevance judgments of real users who are using the system to fulfill real information needs. Result ranking algorithms will be evaluated with respect to their ability to preferentially return "key articles" selected by panels of experts.
The NN/LM SCR funding web page (http://nnlm.gov/scr/outrch/fundopp.htm) contains an often overlooked section on previous award recipients. The link to South Central Region Funded Projects ( http://nnlm.gov/scr/outrch/scrfunded.htm) lists the winners of all of the RML awards dating back to the 2001-2002 Contract Year. Recipients are listed along with a general description of the award. Network members thinking of applying for funding may be interested in contacting previous award winners in order to learn about their experiences with the funding process.
The site also has information on NLM Grant Recipients (http://nnlm.gov/scr/outrch/nlmgrantsites.htm). This page lists NLM grant awardees in the SCR. Each awardee is listed and more information on projects may be found by clicking on the project title. Information for many of the listed projects is obtained from the CRISP (Computer Retrieval of Information on Science Projects) database (http://www.crisp.cit.nih.gov/). The CRISP database includes a short abstract describing the project as well as the project start and end dates and the name of the principle investigator.
The tremendous amounts of paperwork and regulations that are inherent in applying for government funding can be intimidating to even the most seasoned grant writer. To make sense of the paperwork, Network members can request a copy of a successfully funded NLM grant proposal by contacting the NN/LM SCR office. In addition, a sample NIH proposal is available online at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/app/app.pdf. Although it was submitted for a grant through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the proposal uses the PHS 398 form. Parts of this form are used to apply for NLM grants.
Google (http://www.google.com/) may now be considered the primary search engine for librarians, researchers, and the general public. Its popularity and utility seem unmatched. But, is it possible to be too dependent on Google?
A search engine is defined as a database of websites collected by a software program called a spider or bot. Because Google is a finite database of websites, it is important to remember that it does not contain everything on the Internet, only the information it has been programmed to collect. Some sites are missed; others are buried deep in the results. It is a good idea to not forget that there are other quality general search engines available. Since the onset of Google's prominence, competitors have scrambled to provide quality databases and search features that are comparable to Google and hopefully reduce Google's market share.
Here are a few (some old, some new) worth taking a look at.
Yahoo Search
http://search.yahoo.com/
Yahoo is a search tool that has been around for years. Traditionally, Yahoo has provided access to a high-quality subject directory that was compiled by humans. A few years ago, Yahoo also began providing a software-built search engine using Google's database. Recently, Yahoo abandoned the Google database and began using its own unique database. This search engine, available from the main Yahoo page (http://www.yahoo.com/) and also the less cluttered Yahoo Search page (http://search.yahoo.com/) provides a large, quality database and a good alternative to Google. Other resources such as an images database and news database are also available.
Alltheweb
http://www.alltheweb.com/
Alltheweb once contended with Google for the claim of largest search engine database. Recently, however, Alltheweb abandoned its database for Yahoo's newly introduced database. While results will typically be similar to Yahoo, Alltheweb offers a simple interface that is worth trying. Alltheweb also offers an audio and video search, in addition to an image database, news database and other features.
Teoma
http://www.teoma.com/
Teoma is owned by Ask Jeeves, the famous natural language search engine. While the Teoma database is smaller than Google and Yahoo, it offers several interesting features. In addition to website results, Teoma attempts to match search terms to relevant expert resources and also provides a clustering technology feature. Clustering is a technology that attempts to match up search terms with related terms, broader terms, narrower terms, etc. to assist the user with refining the search.
HotBot
http://www.hotbot.com
One of the older search engines, HotBot has gone through several major transitions. It now is a metasearch engine; offering access to the Inktomi database, as well as access to the Google and AskJeeves databases. Access to Inktomi is made available via the "HotBot" button. Because it offers access to three major search engines, a quick analysis of results between the three available databases is possible.
Interested in learning more about search engine technology? The NN/LM SCR offers Super Searcher, a hands-on course focusing on the advanced search features of web search engines and the cutting edge of searching. More information is available at: http://nnlm.gov/scr/edn/supersearcher.htm.
Imagine conducting a class in Spanish when you cannot speak the language. How do you communicate with the class attendees? How do you understand and respond to questions? Finally, how do you make the information relevant to people from another culture?
I recently found myself in this unique and fascinating classroom situation. As part of an NN/LM SCR funding award, I was invited to southern New Mexico to teach two classes on Internet health resources. The classes were comprised entirely of promotoras, community liaisons who serve many roles in their geographic area. Among other services, they provide health education to residents, including information on prenatal care and disease management. While some of the promotoras in the New Mexico classes were bilingual, most spoke only Spanish. Regrettably, I speak little Spanish.
Fortunately, the class organizers hired a certified English/Spanish interpreter who assisted me throughout the session. The interpreter sat in the back of the classroom with a microphone. Each class attendee and I wore compact listening devices that allowed us to hear each other as well as the interpreter. As I taught, the interpreter repeated my words in Spanish into the microphone as I was speaking. When a question was asked, I was able to hear the translation immediately. Of course, my response was then translated back to the student. It was a smooth interaction that did not require me to slow down my speech in order for the interpreter to keep up.
Interpreters are commonly provided in legal settings. While it's clearly not feasible for a library to have a full-time interpreter on staff, there are a variety of independent interpreters and translation services that can be hired on a project basis. The fees can vary dramatically. For the classes I taught, the interpreter charged $60 for both classes. The charge for translating documents is usually on a per-word basis and can get pricey.
One interesting thing I learned from the experience is the extent to which English speakers use idioms in their conversations. Phrases such as "pulling his leg" or "hand over fist" have no meaning in Spanish. However, a skilled interpreter will substitute words to get across the speaker's point.
The printed Index Medicus, started by John Shaw Billings in 1879 and published for 125 consecutive years, will cease at the end of 2004. Once an indispensable tool for health professionals and librarians, it is now a seldom used alternative to PubMed and other Internet-based products that contain the database from which Index Medicus has been generated for nearly 40 years.
For more information, see: Index Medicus to Cease as Print Publication. NLM Tech Bull. 2004 May-Jun;(338):e2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj04/mj04_im.html.
The number of items displayed in the Index scroll box in Preview/Index has been increased from 40 to 200. The increased display number allows for the selection of more search terms. Use the Index to select from a list of terms within a search field. Select a search field from the All Fields pull-down menu, enter a term in the box, and click Index. PubMed displays an alphabetic list of terms in the Index for the selected search field. The number of citations in PubMed that contain the term appears in parentheses to the right of the term. You can scroll up or down the list, or click Up or Down to move along in the Index.
You can now transfer a term found in the MeSH database to PubMed's Clinical Queries page. This is done using the Links pull-down menu available with the results of a MeSH database search. The Links menu already provides a way to run a search for a MeSH term in PubMed or the NLM MeSH Browser.
For more information, see: Nahin AM. Link to Clinical Queries Added to MeSH Database. NLM Tech Bull. 2004 Mar-Apr;(337):e2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma04/ma04_cq.html.
PubMed's History feature now allows users to delete individual statements from the History screen, as well as combine History statements in a search more easily.
For more information, see: Stetson JS. PubMed History Feature to Include Extra Options. NLM Tech Bull. 2004 Mar-Apr;(337):e8. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma04/ma04_history.html.
The 2004 edition of the NLM Classification incorporates all additions and changes to the schedules and index from August 2003 through April 2004.
For more information, see: Willis SR. NLM Classification 2004 Edition Now Available. NLM Tech Bull. 2004 Mar-Apr;(337):e5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma04/ma04_classification.html.
The Bookshelf (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Books) at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is the new home of the Health Services Technology Assessment Texts (HSTAT).
HSTAT contains full text documents that provide health information and support for health care decision making. HSTAT's audience includes health care providers, health service researchers, policy makers, payers, consumers and the information professionals who serve these groups.
For more information, see: Sedlar L. HSTAT Moves to the Bookshelf. NLM Tech Bull. 2004 May-Jun;(338):e3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj04/mj04_hstat.html.
The National Training Center & Clearinghouse would like to thank everyone who participated in the NTCC Educational Database Visitor Profile Survey conducted last year.
The findings of the survey are available at the NTCC website at: http://nnlm.gov/mar/online/survey.html. The report contains charts showing the results to each of the questions.
NIH expanded its health information website (http://health.nih.gov/). There are more links to NIH resources.
For more information, see the press release at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2004/od-15.htm.
The Household Products Database (HPD) (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov) now links over 5,000 consumer brands to health effects from Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provided by the manufacturers. HPD allows scientists and consumers to research products based on chemical ingredients.
Two additional Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) classes will be held at NLM on September 20, 2004, and November 1, 2004. There are no prerequisites for the course, but students should be familiar with MeSH and controlled vocabularies (especially thesaurus conventions and hierarchical arrangements). Attendees of this class will be awarded 7.5 Medical Library Association continuing education credits. You can register with the National Training Center and Clearinghouse at: http://nnlm.gov/mar/online/request.html.
In October 2003, NLM began an interactive multimedia exhibit called "Changing the Face of Medicine" (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/). It celebrates the lives and achievements of women in medicine since they first gained admission to American medical schools 150 years ago. It features more than 300 women.
Now ALA, in collaboration with NLM is making the exhibit available to 30 libraries as part of a new traveling exhibition. Applications to host the exhibition are invited from public, academic and medical libraries in the US.
The application and more information are available at: http://www.ala.org/ala/ppo/currentprograms/changingthefaceofmedicine/changingmedicine.htm.
The application deadline is September 1, 2004.
Established in 1970, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/), Bethesda, MD, develops and conducts comprehensive health, education, research, and planning programs for the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse and alcoholism and for the rehabilitation of alcohol abusers and alcoholics. As part of their vision, NIAAA attempts to remove the stigma associated with alcoholism. Their research focuses on genetic and other biological origions as well as sociocultural causes in individual responses to alcohol.
NIAAA makes many of their resources readily available on their website. For example, you will find easy to read publications in English and Spanish. Other items found under the Publications section are the free Health Science Education Curricula Materials (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Science/main.htm) to assist middle school teachers and Professional Educational/Training Materials for healthcare professionals.
Under the Database section, Quick Facts provides data tables on alcohol related topics, such as amount of alcohol consumption per capita. New Hampshire is first, followed closely by Nevada and Washington D.C. Another database is the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) which includes comparable information on alcohol related policies in the US at the Federal and state level.
Resources aimed at teens and their parents include NIAAA's the Cool Spot (http://www.thecoolspot.gov/). The site uses a fun interactive approach to educate teens on avoiding underage drinking. Their College Drinking website (http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/) provides information for students, faculty and parents.
Published bimonthly by the
National Network of Libraries of Medicine,
South Central Region
Supported by NLM Contract N01-LM-1-3515
NN/LM SCR Regional Advisory Committee
Chair
Mary Ryan
Network News Editor
Ruicha Mishra