On October 11, 2007, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) released a new search engine for MedlinePlus, MedlinePlus en español and the NLM Web site. NLM selected search engine software from the Pittsburgh-based company Vivisimo. Vivisimo is also the current search solution for the USA.gov site (formerly FirstGov).

The new search results feature enhanced relevance rankings and bold-face search words in context to help you select the best Web document for your query. An integrated spell checker suggests alternative search terms and spelling corrections. The new search engine also expands queries using synonyms specific to the sites and medical synonyms from the NLM Unified Medical Language System.

For more information, please see the NLM Technical Bulletin: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/so07/so07_nlm_search_engine.html

Pointe Coupee Parish is building an Electronic Health Records (EHR) network through a grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The network will allow facilities in the rural parish, designated as a medically underserved area, to share EHRs. By sharing EHRs, these facilities can improve patient service. Read more about Pointe Coupee Parish’s EHR grant through 2theadvocate.com’s website at http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/10406467.html.

The NN/LM SCR will be offering Getting the Best from DOCLINE 3 at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Library on November 30, 8:30am - 12:30pm.

Course Description: Attendees will learn how to use the features of DOCLINE effectively. Instruction will include how to properly input and maintain their institution’s record and serial holdings, search for and request materials, and fill other libraries requests. Additional topics include DOCLINE upgrades, reports, Loansome Doc and EFTS.

Upon successful completion of the class, each participant will receive 4 hours of continuing education credit awarded by the Medical Library Association (MLA).

To register: http://nnlm.gov/scr/training/register.html

These classes are free and open to anyone.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at karen.bulow@exch.library.tmc.edu or 1-800-338-7657.

DOCLINE now utilizes SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for communication between NLM and users’ browsers.

DOCLINE libraries should update their Login page bookmarks to https://docline.gov.

Depending upon your browser version and your browser settings, libraries may see warning messages when accessing PubMed or LocatorPlus from within the new SSL version of DOCLINE. Libraries that do not want to be warned when leaving the secure DOCLINE environment can update their browser settings. See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/docline/system_requirements.html#browser

Action Items:

1. Delete existing DOCLINE bookmarks.

2. Bookmark https://docline.gov

3. Review your browser settings. See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/docline/system_requirements.html#browser

Note: Optionally, libraries can turn off security warning messages. See the instructions at the end of the browser settings document for your browser. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/docline/system_requirements.html#browser

4. Clear your browser cache. See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/doc_clearcache.html

5. Login to https://docline.gov

Organizations with proxy servers may need to request that their local IT group clear the cache on the proxy server.

The Medical Library Association (MLA) has declared October as National Medical Librarians Month. In addition to the many librarians on the NLM staff, NLM relies heavily on the work of medical librarians associated with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), made up of more than 5,800 member organizations.

The following medical librarians and their NN/LM SCR funded outreach projects are highlighted for National Medical Librarians Month:

• Lisa Smith, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Gibson D. Lewis Library, Ft. Worth TX: Health Literacy Education Initiative

• Deborah Halsted, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library, Houston TX, Information RX for School Nurses and Librarians: MedlinePlus and Go Local

• Pat Morris, Saint Edward Mercy Medical Center Foundation Library, Fort Smith AR, Parish Nurses Promoting Health Information Literacy to Non-English Speaking Hispanic Community

• Melissa Kash-Holley, Oklahoma State University Medical Center, L.C. Baxter Medical Library, Tulsa OK: Patient Information Kiosk

• Helen Caruso, Southeast Louisiana AHEC, Learning Resource Center, Covington LA: WISER Responders

A synopsis of their projects, as well as other medical librarians and NN/LM funded projects highlighted this year, is located at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/lo/profiles07/