Volume 4, Number 8 April 1992
Books & Bytes is produced by the HSLIC Library Staff for Health Sciences Center personnel. Copyright University of Washington.
- Library Rankings Reflect Strengths and Challenges
- Flat-Rate MEDLARS Access Available to ACP Members
- Just in Time for Summer...
- Pardon our Dust - Again!
- WILLOW
- What's New in IME
- New Research Funding Resources
- INTERNET: Your Gateway to Electronic Information Sources
- UWREFLIB Searching Tips: Using Subheadings
- Own a Piece of the "Microcosm"
- New Serial Titles Added, February 1992 - March 1992
- Recent Gifts and Contributions to the Collections
Library Rankings Reflect Strengths and Challenges
The newly released Annual Statistics of Medical School Libraries in the United States & Canada, 1990-1991, 14th ed., provides an interesting perspective on the ranking of the Health Sciences Library both nationally among the 144 reporting institutions and among its 23 peer institutions.*
HSLIC continues to have the largest client base among our peer group and ranks fifth nationally in the total number of clients we are responsible for serving (12,641 faculty, staff, and students). We rank second among our peers in clients in health sciences programs (5,416), exceeded only by the University of North Carolina. The chart below shows how primary Health Sciences clients are distributed by program, in comparison with peer group averages.
The HSLIC collection ranks fifth among our peers both in collection size (305,655 volumes) and in number of current serial subscriptions (4,354). While the majority (83.9%) of collection expenditures were designated for serials as in past years, funding for non-print materials ($44,098), including electronic databases and computer software, increased by 65%, reflecting the increasing importance of new technology to the health sciences community. In terms of total expenditures ($2.9 million) we rank eighth nationally; but in terms of expenditures per primary client ($537) we fall to 77th place.
HSLIC ranks 11th nationally in use of the collection, and is second only to UCLA among its peers in collection usage. In addition to the 638,419 items which were checked out or used onsite in FY 1991, the heavy demands on the collection were reflected by our fourth-place national ranking in the number of photocopies (4.2 million) made during the year.
Building use (441,076) increased by 13% during the past year, putting us in fifth place among our peers and 13th nationally. Available space to serve those clients unfortunately did not increase. As a result, our 59,000 sq. ft. provide us with only 10.9 sq. ft. per primary client, versus a national mean of 18.3 sq. ft. per client, ranking us 100th nationally.
For a summary of key library statistics for 1990-1991, see HSLIC FactSheet #16, which can be picked up on the information kiosks. For updated statistical information for grant applications, accreditation visits, or other purposes, call Carolyn Weaver, Associate Director for Administration, at 543-3401 or via email to cweaver@u.washington.edu.
*The University of Washington Peer Group includes health sciences libraries of: University of Arizona; University of California-Davis; University of California-Irvine; UCLA; University of California-San Diego; University of Cincinnati; Cornell Medical College; University of Florida; University of Illinois-Chicago; University of Iowa; University of Kentucky; University of Michigan; University of Minnesota- Minneapolis; University of Missouri-Columbia; University of North Carolina; University of New Mexico; Ohio State University; University of Pittsburgh; Texas A&M University; University of Utah; University of Virginia; and University of Wisconsin.
Flat-Rate MEDLARS Access Available to ACP Members
From September 1989 through May 1991 the Health Sciences Library, along with six other medical center libraries throughout the country, participated in a pilot project which made unlimited access to all National Library of Medicine (NLM) databases available to UW faculty and staff for a flat fee. NLM has now extended the program to members of the American College of Physicians (ACP) under a special, one-year arrangement which began April 1.
Individual ACP members can receive unlimited access to MEDLINE and other NLM databases for an annual charge of $200. ACP members applying for the flat-rate access code will receive a copy of the GRATEFUL MED software (IBM-compatible or Macintosh), a code and password, the bimonthly publication Gratefully Yours, and toll-free telephone assistance. The Loansome Doc feature of GRATEFUL MED allows users to place an order electronically to libraries with which they are registered as a Loansome Doc borrower for any copy of an article referenced in MEDLINE.
If successful, this special arrangement with the 72,000-member ACP may lead to similar agreements with other organizations in the future. Applications for ACP codes can be obtained by calling the UW's National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region office (543- 8262 or 1-800-338-7657) or MEDLARS Management Section at NLM (1-800-638- 8680).
Training in the use of GRATEFUL MED, MEDLINE, and other NLM databases is available from HSLIC. Call Information Services, 543-3395, for class information.
Just in Time for Summer...
by Janet Schnall, Information Management LibrarianIs there a risk of contacting malaria on my trip to China? What is the latest treatment for traveler's diarrhea? These and other questions can be answered by the Travel Medical Advisor: The Physician's Update on International Health, located in the Ready Reference Book collection (WA108 T779 1991). Edited by Elaine C. Jong and Russell McMullen, Co- Directors of the UWMC Travel Medical Service, and Jay S. Keystone, the Travel Medical Advisor is an authoritative reference for health care professionals who are consulted for advice on travelers' health. In- depth, current information is supplemented by the opinions of recognized experts.
Travel Medical Advisor is divided into three main sections. Pre-Travel provides information the traveling patient needs to know before embarking on a trip, including suggestions about items to pack in a traveler's medical kit, the latest vaccine dosage requirements, and special needs of travelers with chronic health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. During Travel highlights hazards a traveler may encounter during a trip, such as food poisoning, snakebites, or altitude disorders. It also provides advice on prevention of injury or illness. Post-Travel helps answer complex questions about the health status of returned travelers, such as hepatitis or tropical fever, and suggests an approach to appropriate therapy.
A separate Travel Consult section provides country-by-country descriptions of required and recommended immunizations, identifies specific health risks, and offers practical advice for traveling patients. The directory also includes maps pinpointing areas of the world where individual diseases are a problem, a listing of travel clinics in the U.S. and Canada, a worldwide directory of physicians compiled by the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), and a section of sample forms commonly used by travel clinics.
This new reference book is regularly updated by bimonthly newsletters, Travel Medical Advisor Update and Travel Medicine Advisor Alerts, which identify new outbreaks of disease abroad, therapeutic advances, and changes to immunization or dosage recommendations.
Pardon our Dust - Again!
The index tables near the Reference Stacks have been relocated to make room for the display of the "To Your Health" poster exhibit in the Library through May 29. This is also the first step in the next phase of reorganization and facilities upgrade in the Health Sciences Library.
For several months we have been weeding the reference collection, relocating lesser-used materials to the general stacks and reducing the overall size of the noncirculating collection. Over the summer the range of reference stacks closest to the windows will be removed, and the vacated area will be wired and painted to accommodate the reference desk and many of the workstations in the U-Search Area. One study room is also being converted to a staff office. The work should be relatively unobtrusive to users, since it will be concentrated primarily on the north side on the second floor, and no major construction is involved.
WILLOW
A lengthy article about WILLOW, the new graphical interface to the UWREFLIB databases, developed by the Health Sciences Library and Information Center in collaboration with the University Libraries and Computing & Communications staff, appears in the February issue of Vital Links, the IAIMS newsletter. To request a copy of the newsletter, contact the IAIMS office at 685-2166.
We expect to offer a pilot trial of WILLOW on X-terminals for public use at HSLIC by summer. Signs in the HSLIC will alert you to its availability. For more information, contact Debbie Ketchell at 543-3409 or ketchell@u.washington.edu.
What's New in IME
During Spring quarter the Information Management Education (IME) program is offering several new classes. "Improving Search Results with Medical Subject Headings" teaches you how to use a controlled vocabulary to search MEDLINE and other National Library of Medicine databases for efficient subject retrieval. "Introduction to Toxicology Databases" introduces searchers to various sources of toxicological information. "Navigating the Internet" introduces you to the myriad resources available through this world-wide computer network. For dates, times and registration information, see the IME schedule above.
New Research Funding Resources
by Diana Hall, Research Funding Service LibrarianRecent additions to the funding-related books in HSLIC's Reference collection include four guides specific to AIDS and HIV, substance abuse, minority health, and epidemiology.
AIDS Funding: A Guide to Giving by Foundations and Charitable Organizations (WD308.A22826.1991) lists more than 500 grantmaking foundations, corporate giving programs, and public charities that have a demonstrated interest in AIDS/HIV projects and services. The entries are arranged by state, with indexes by organization name, subject, and type of support. For about half of the grantmakers, there is a list of recent grants actually given.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Funding: An Analysis of Foundation Grants (WM274.R424a.1989) reports on a study of funding patterns and trends of over 300 grantmakers during the 1980s. It contains profiles of noteworthy grantmakers and a list of organizations that consistently make grants related to substance abuse. The focal chapter on giving patterns by program category discusses the distribution of nearly 85% of foundation grant dollars to prevention and intervention/treatment programs, contrasted with the 15% going for social and biomedical research, policy, and education for health professionals. The report also analyzes patterns of giving by foundation type and size, and by type of support, population group, and recipient organization type. The additional analysis of a 1989 survey, quoting respondents, provides insight into the interests, attitudes, and funding strategies of both grantmakers and professionals in the substance abuse field.
Minority Health Resources Directory (W22.AA1.M662.1991) profiles 360 national agencies and organizations that provide minority health-related information, services, or funding. The narrative profiles, divided into Federal Government Agencies and Programs, Private Organizations, and Foundations, include contact information, a general overview, and a summary of minority-specific activities. Also frequently included are publications and communications networks, meetings and conferences, databases, and grants information. The indexes allow access by special population, organization name, and subject.
EPISOURCE: A Guide to Resources in Epidemiology (WA105.E66.1991). This work is organized by 30 broad resource categories. Most relevant to research and educational funding inquiries are Associations, Awards, Agencies (government and international), Companies, Fellowships, Funding Sources (non-governmental), and Research Centers. Categories must be checked individually, since there is no volume index. Each brief listing gives epidemiology-specific as well as essential directory information. Further information on many of the funding organizations and opportunities listed may be found in sources such as Directory of Biomedical and Health Care Grants (W22.AA1.D54.1991-1992) and Annual Register of Grant Support (HJ.275.A65.1992) or by calling the Research Funding Service (RFS) at 685-8036.
INTERNET: Your Gateway to Electronic Information Sources
by Debbie Ketchell, Associate Director, Resource Management and Systems DevelopmentMembers of the University community can access a wide variety of electronic information resources through the Internet. By joining appropriate electronic discussion groups, you can exchange information with those who have similar interests, or subscribe to a growing number of electronic newsletters and journals.
LISTSERV is a mailing list manager and file server used to manage electronic discussion groups. When you "subscribe" to a discussion list, messages from other subscribers are automatically sent to your mail box, as are copies of electronic journals and newsletters when "published." Anyone with an Internet or BITNET email address can participate.
Subscribe to a LISTSERV by sending a message to a LISTSERV@NODE. In most cases, you will need to add .BITNET to the NODE name. The message text is simply: SUBSCRIBE LISTNAME FIRSTNAME LASTNAME. For example, to subscribe to the NIH Clinical Alerts, address an email message to listserv@umab.bitnet and in the text of the message type: subscribe clinalrt Jane Doe. To cancel a LISTSERV subscription, use the same command but replace subscribe with unsubscribe. A sampling of health-related LISTSERVs is provided in the box on the next page.
For more information on LISTSERVs, see the NorthWestNet User Services Internet Resource Guide (Ready Reference TK 5105.5 K62 1991), or consider taking our "Navigating the Internet" class; see the Information Management Education schedule for class information.
| Listname | Node | Description |
| ALCOHOL | LMUACAD | Alcohol and drug studies |
| AMALGAM | DSORUS1I | Dental amalgam and mercury poisoning |
| ANEST-L | UBVM | Anesthesiology |
| BIOMCH-L | HEARN | Biomechanics and movement science |
| BIOMED-L | NDSUVM1 | Biomedical ethics |
| DIABETIC | PCCVM | Diabetic patient counseling |
| EMERG-L | MARIST | Collegiate Emergency Medical Services |
| EPID-L | QUCDN | Epidemiology and biostatistics |
| FAMILY-L | UMCVMB | Delivery of family practice and clinical medicine |
| FET-NET | HEARN | Research in fetal and perinatal care |
| FINAN-HC | WUVMD | Health care financial matters |
| FINAN-HC | WUVMD | Health care financial matters |
| GENETICS | INDYCMS | Clinical human genetics |
| GERINET | UBVM | Geriatric health care |
| HYPERMED | UMAB | Biomedical hypermedia instructional design |
| LASMED-L | TAUNIVM | Laser Medicine |
| LPN-L | BROWNVM | Laboratory primates |
| MEDSTU-L | UNMVM | Medical student discussion list |
| NIHGUIDE | UWAVM | NIH Guide |
| NRSING-L | UMSSMDVM | Nursing informatics |
| RADSIG | UWAVM | Radiology |
| SOCWORK | UMAB | Social work |
| AIDSNEWS | USCVM | AIDS/HIV News (peer reviewed) |
| CLINALRT | UMAB | NIH Clinical Alerts (peer reviewed) |
| MEDNEWS | ASUACAD | The Health InfoCom Newsletter (highlights medical news from USA Today, MMWR, FDA and other sources) |
| PSYC | PUCC | Psycoloquy (psychology and related fields: cognitive science, neuroscience, behavioral biology, linguistics, philosophy; peer reviewed) |
UWREFLIB Searching Tips: Using Subheadings
by Leilani St. Anna, Information Services Fee-based Services LibrarianWhen searching MEDLINE, subheadings are often the most convenient way to limit search retrieval to the exact concept you are seeking.
Perhaps you are looking for articles on the number of people without health insurance. A check of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) shows the relevant subject heading, "medical indigency"; but the use of that term alone in the MEDL file will retrieve more than 1400 articles. To narrow the search only to those articles on statistics of medical indigency, you need to use subheadings as well.
Subheadings are specialized terms which cover frequently discussed narrow aspects of broader subjects, such as adverse effects, diagnosis, or drug therapy. Subheadings are used in combination with Mesh terms to restrict your search to specific aspects of the topic.
Library Guide 55, available on the HSLIC information kiosks, lists the subheadings available for use in MEDLINE, including related "families" of subheadings. In the statistics "family" are three related subheadings:
SN STATISTICS & NUMERICAL DATA
EP epidemiology
ET ethnology
MO mortality
For statistical information, you can use all of these subheadings or only those of interest.
To search for statistics and numeric data on medical indigency, type in the Mesh term, a space, then two letter subheading code. To search more than one subheading, enter each combination as a separate search statement.
SEARCH 1 medical-indigency sn
RESULT 45 DOCUMENT(S) FOUND
If you prefer, you can type the subject heading in one search statement and combine with the subheading in a separate search statement. That technique reduces the amount of typing (and possibilities for errors) if you want to search for more than one subheading.
SEARCH 1 medical-indigency
RESULT 707 DOCUMENT(S) FOUND
SEARCH 2 1 sn
RESULT 45 DOCUMENT(S) FOUND
Your search on statistics on medical indigency can be restricted further by limiting the results to the major heading field and limiting to English language articles only.
SEARCH 3 2.mj.
RESULT 32 DOCUMENT(S) FOUNDSEARCH 4 3 en = y
RESULT 30 DOCUMENT(S) FOUND
Own a Piece of the "Microcosm"
"Microcosm" is an exhibit of scientific photomicrographs (photographs taken through the lens of a microscope) which are on display in the Health Sciences Library, as well as in offices throughout the Health Sciences Center for Educational Resources (HSCER).
The images were created by a collaboration of a scientist, Dr. Dennis Kunkel, and a computer artist, Joseph Wilmhoff. Dr. Kunkel is a Research Scientist in UW's Department of Neurological Surgery who uses both light and electron microscopes to create award-winning black and white photographs. Joe Wilmhoff, Imaging Center Manager at HSCER, then scans the photos to obtain a high resolution digital image which can be manipulated and colorized to produce the final 10" x 13" print.
Microscopy and photography thus meet to take us beyond the limits of human perception into a world of intricate beauty and detail. Due to enthusiastic public response to the library exhibit, these images are now being offered for sale from the HSCER Distribution Office. Copies of the Cibachrome prints can be purchased either unmounted, or mounted and framed. Call Marie Gray at 685-1186 for prices and other order information.
New Serial Titles Added, February 1992 - March 1992
AAMC data book, 1991--.
Reference Book Stacks: W20 A112.
AVMA directory, 1984--.
Latest in Reference Book Stacks; SF 611 A52.
Advances in trauma and critical care, v.6(1991)--.
Canadian AIDS news ; Latest year only.
Clinical infectious diseases, v.14(1992)--.
Dermatology, v.184(1992)--.
Directory of accredited organizations, 1991:fall,--.
Reference Book Stacks: WY 22 AA1 D4232.
Nurse educators ..., 1990--.
Reference Book Stacks: WY 31 N85.
Rhode Island medicine, v.75(1992)--.
Recent Gifts and Contributions to the Collections
Acknowledgment and appreciation is extended to the following individuals and departments who have recently made donations to the Library:
Contributors to Collections:
Mr. Fred R. Berg; Dr. Eugene Choy; Dr. David C. Dale; Dr. Robert W. Day; Dr. Lucas De Clercq; Dr. Ronald F. Di Giacomo; Dr. Hjordis M. Foy; Dr. Sherrilynne Fuller; Dr. Penelope Gaddum-Rosse; Ms. Barbara Gold; Mr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett; Mr. Gordon H. Lewandowski; Ms. Cindy Madden; Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn; Dr. Donald Patrick; Dr. John Philip Sauntry; Dr. Leon Spadoni; Dr. Eric Stoler; Dr. Robert L. Van Citters; Dr. Noel Weiss; Dr. Loren C. Winterscheid; Department of Health Services; School of Pharmacy; Department of Pharmacy Practice.
Contributors to Gift Funds:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Corbett.
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