Getting Started with LinkOut

Abstract

LinkOut is a feature of PubMed that is designed to provide users with links from PubMed and other Entrez databases to a wide variety of relevant web-accessible online resources, including full-text publications, biological databases, consumer health information, research tools, and more. The goal is to facilitate access to relevant online resources beyond the Entrez system to extend, clarify, or supplement information found in the Entrez databases.

This hands-on class provides step-by-step direction on how to activate LinkOut for your library's print and electronic journal collections, so that your users are able to see your holdings and access full-text through the PubMed interface. Topics covered are registration for LinkOut, entering holdings, displaying your library's icon for "branding" purposes, and access to free full-text through LinkOut.

Objectives

Participants will learn what LinkOut is and how it works with electronic and print collections.
Participants will see how to register for a LinkOut account, set up library identity information, enter print and electronic holdings information, and how to activate an icon in PubMed.
Participants will discover the ease with which a library may bring free web-based titles into their own collections through LinkOut.

Course Materials

Continuing Education

This class has been approved by the Medical Library Association for either 2 or 4 contact hours of CE credit. The online class is approved for 3 MLA CE contact hours. It is listed by MLA as course number 3135.