Poster Board Number: 18
Title: Accessing Materials Using Dynamic Links in the Library Information System
Objective: To improve access to materials in medical subject areas within a university-wide library information system (LIS), with specific emphasis on evidence-based medicine (EBM) resources. In a university-wide LIS, searching and browsing for materials in medical subject areas can be difficult. Outside of a straight keyword search, users must typically choose a number of options to perform an effective search, such as limiting to a specific location and choosing Library of Congress (LC) or Medical subject indexes (and knowing the difference between them!). A solution to this difficulty is to provide a set of dynamic or canned search links to materials in the broad National Library of Medicine (NLM) classes, QS through WZ.
Methods: Research varying methods of medical subject access in the LIS (i.e., Medical Subject Headings [MeSH], document lifecycle management [DLM] classification, and keywords). Research dynamic link syntax and construct link lists. Test results.
Results and Conclusions: A drop-down list that searches against the 060 (NLM call number) was implemented in November 2010. After working with this list, several conclusions can be reached. In a general sense, searching by broad classes (at least in a discrete collection such as reserves) is useful. However, in the case of EBM and evidence-based nursing, materials can be placed in several classes, depending on specialty, so that a subject word search was used rather than a class search. The most important factor in the success or failure of this access method is the quality of the underlying cataloging, be it NLM classification or subject headings. Scaling this method to the general collection would be problematic (particularly in terms of electronic resources that have cataloging batch-loaded). There may not even be NLM call numbers assigned to a great number of records.
Author: David Brennan, Assistant Librarian, Collection Development/Digital Resources Management, George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library, Penn State Hershey, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
