1. National Library of Medicine Gateway: a personal view
Tom Flemming, MA, MLS, AHIP
Head of Public Services
McMaster University Health Sciences Library
Hamilton, ON

2. brings together a variety of NLM web sites and information products
brings together a variety of NLM web sites and information products
provides “first stop shopping” for disparate resources
directed at health care workers and researchers, librarians, students, patients, their families, and the public
can be used as a “way into” NLM resources
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004

3. Now includes (and searches):
Now includes (and searches):
MEDLINE/PubMed (& OLDMEDLINE)
LOCATORplus -- the NLM catalogue
MEDLINEplus -- consumer health resource
DIRLINE, AIDS Meetings, Health Services Research Meetings, Space Life Sciences Meetings, and HSRProj
ClinicalTrials.gov
other NLM files to follow: Toxline, HSTAT
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004

4. the Gateway is a work in progress
the Gateway is a work in progress
things will change from time to time (check What’s New regularly)
use the Help and FAQ features when you need assistance
or, click Contact Us at the bottom of the screen
ordering documents feature doesn’t work in Canada as it does in the U.S.
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004

5. consumer health information
medical encyclopedia
drug handbook/information
dictionaries, directories, tutorials, news ...
easy-to-use
U.S. focus, with Canadian relevance
directed at the public, but not necessarily “simple”; uses a variety of sources
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004

6. database(s) of the biomedical literature
MEDLINE (INI, IDL), PREMEDLINE
now about 4,300 biomedical journals annually
coverage: 1960 to present
intuitive interface for the casual searcher
expert interface for the scientist/librarian
many enhancements: ordering, linkout, tutorial, storage ...
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004

7. Catalogue of NLM holdings & products:
books, journal titles, audiovisual programmes
databases, guidelines , images
includes library information:
location, hours, services
simple menu-driven interface
uses MeSH: Medical Subject Headings
good source of verification & browsing
no book/AV loans outside the USA
ILL through DOCLINE & Loansome Doc
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004

8. Questions welcome at any time!
Questions welcome at any time!
Presentation sponsored by Ontario Hospital Libraries Association January 2004