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NIH Policy on Access to Research Announced
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a new policy designed to accelerate the public's access to published articles resulting from NIH-funded research. The new policy, which takes effect May 2nd, calls on scientists to release to the public manuscripts from research supported by the NIH. The electronic copy of final manuscripts will be made available through PubMed Central, a Web-based digital archive of full-text biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research journals that is managed by the National Library of Medicine (http://www.pubmedcentral.gov). The archive is permanent, publicly-accessible, and searchable. The author's final manuscript is defined as the final version accepted for journal publication and includes all modifications from the publishing peer review process. The policy gives authors the flexibility to designate a time frame for public release, ranging from immediate public access to a 12 month delay. The NIH estimates that the results of research it supported were described in more than 60,000 published papers in 2003.
The new policy follows months of intensive deliberations with representatives of patient and scientific organizations, researchers, and publishers. Over 6,000 public comments were received in response to the draft proposal posted in September. All scientists who receive NIH funding should read the new policy which is available at http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2005/od-03.htm or in PDF format at http://www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/publicaccess_imp.pdf.
Rajia Tobia, A.M.L.S.
Associate Library Director for Collection Development
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Email Alerts Now Available through PubMed
Several new features were added to PubMed on February 1st. At the same time, the PubMed interface was 'spruced up,' with a more modern look.
The biggest changes are seen in My NCBI, previously known as the Cubby. When saving a search to My NCBI, users can now choose be alerted when references matching their search strategy are added to PubMed. Users who have previously set up a user name and password for Cubby will use the same information to log into My NCBI. Searches saved in the Cubby have been transferred to My NCBI.
Another much-anticipated change is obvious when saving text files in PubMed. Previously, files were saved as .fcgi files, and users had to manually change the extension to text (.txt). Now, when Send to file is selected, the file is saved as a text file, with the default name pubmed-results.txt.
The Briscoe Library regularly teaches hands-on workshops on PubMed. The next one will be on Thursday, February 24th, 9:00-10:30 a.m. To sign up for this or other workshops, visit the Library's Class listings at http://www.library.uthscsa.edu/consultation/schedule.cfm.
Janna Lawrence, M.L.I.S.
Reference & Instructional Services Coordinator
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Trial Subscriptions Available
The UTHSCSA Library is currently running trial subscriptions to three resources: AccessMedicine, PsycARTICLES, and Digital Dissertations and Theses. Links to all three are available under What's New on the Library's web site at http://www.library.uthscsa.edu.
AccessMedicine is an online resource that provides immediate full-text access to authoritative and current medical information from the most recent editions of a variety of medical textbooks as well as basic science and patient care resources. Full-text electronic books include the 16th edition of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, the 11th edition of Hurst's The Heart, the 10th edition of Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, and the twenty volumes of the Lange Educational Library. Remote access is restricted to UTHSCSA faculty, staff, and students who are registered Library borrowers and who have set a PIN. The AccessMedicine trial will continue through February.
PsycARTICLES contains the full-text of nearly 50 journals published by the American Psychological Association in fields covering human physiology, personality psychology, social psychology, educational psychology, and more. The years of full-text coverage vary with each journal; however, some journals have full-text coverage back to the 1980's. Among the titles included are Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Educational Psychology, and Psychology and Aging. To access the PsycARTICLES trial site, go to http://trials.proquest.com/ptc?userid=292621 and enter the password welcome. To see a list of the journals covered by PsycARTICLES, click on the tab labeled Publication Search after you have logged in. The PsycARTICLES trial will continue through mid-February.
Digital Dissertations and Theses includes the Dissertation Abstracts database, which is the major source for locating information about doctoral dissertations and master's theses. Dissertation Abstracts represents the work of authors from over 1,000 North American graduate schools and European universities. Approximately 60,000 new dissertations and 12,000 new theses are added to the database each year. To log in to the trial, go to http://trials.proquest.com/ptc?userid=292621 and enter the password welcome. The Digital Dissertations trial will continue through February 28th.
Please send your comments about any of these trials to Rajia Tobia, Associate Library Director for Collection Development, at tobia@uthscsa.edu.
Rajia Tobia, A.M.L.S.
Associate Library Director for Collection Development
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Library Surveys Need for Services at the Texas Research Park
In November and December of 2004 the Briscoe Library surveyed those at the Texas Research Park (TRP) to see what Library services were most needed. Those surveyed are affiliated with the Barshop Institute, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, the IBT Department of Molecular Medicine, and the South Texas Centers for Biology and Medicine (divisions of Cellular & Structural Biology, Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Pathology, and Physiology).
Responses were received from 69 of 169 individuals receiving the survey, or 41% of those surveyed. The responses were from faculty (62% of total TRP faculty members); staff and fellows (38% of total TRP staff and fellows) and students (32% of total TRP students). Most (90%) of those responding were located at TRP, with the rest intending to move within the year.
Survey results reflected the distance of the TRP from the main UTHSCSA campus. Most (89%, 93%) respondents needed electronic interlibrary loan and document delivery, while 77% of survey respondents identified the need for additional online access to journals and reference tools (mostly on topics in aging, cancer, and the basic sciences). Many respondents requested a Library Web portal for research (82%); central Library funding for certain information databases supporting research (82%); core reference books at TRP (80%); and core print journals (62%). Respondents also requested updates on scholarly publishing and communication (76%); reference assistance (74%); training on databases (62%); and an onsite informatician (58%).
The survey identified five different uses for the current library space at the TRP.
| Use |
Positive |
| Temporary space for visitors to work |
82% |
| Get away to write or prepare presentations |
79% |
| Study |
75% |
| Meetings |
75% |
| Cross departmental collaboration |
74% |
Respondents also identified a great need for computers in the library space for accessing software and research (84%), scanning & digitizing (78%), Internet access (76%), projecting presentations (70%), and email access (64%).
As a result, the Library is adding online access to journals and other resources identified by respondents. Library staff are also teaching a series of brown bag seminars at the TRP. Other services that were requested will be provided in the future. For more information on the survey and library services, please contact Dr. Mary Moore, Director of Libraries, (210) 567-2400 or email: moorem3@uthscsa.edu.
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Methods in Enzymology Now Available Online
The UTHSCSA Library now subscribes to the online version of Methods in Enzymology, a popular research tool. The UTHSCSA subscription covers online volumes published from 2000 to the present, and the Library will no longer subscribe to the print version of Methods in Enzymology. Links to individual volumes of Methods online can be located by doing a Keyword or Title search for the volume name in BLIS, the Library's catalog. A Title search for methods of enzymology will lead to a link listing all available volumes. Methods may also be accessed through the Books section of Elsevier ScienceDirect at http://www.sciencedirect.com. Off-campus access is limited to UTHSCSA students, staff, and faculty who have registered with the Library and set a PIN. Please send any comments about online access to Methods to Rajia Tobia, Associate Library Director for Collection Development, at tobia@uthscsa.edu.
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Barbara Bates Physical Exam Videos Available Online
The Library has recently purchased all 14 modules of the Barbara Bates' Physical Guide to Examination streaming videos. The videos show step-by-step physical examinations including rationale for the actions of the clinician. The videos are available in the Library or on any campus computer with an Internet connection. Remote access is available to UTHSCSA students, faculty, and staff who are registered Library borrowers and who have set a PIN. Please note that the videos do not work with Macintosh computers or with Mozilla, Firefox, or Netscape web browsers.
Each of the 14 modules focuses on a different organ system. The modules include:
- Approach to the Patient
- Head to Toe Assessment (Adult)
- Abdomen
- Breasts and Axillae
- Cardiovascular System
- Female Genitalia, Anus & Rectum
- Head, Eyes and Ears
- Male Genitalia, Hernias, Rectum & Prostate
- Musculoskeletal System
- Nervous System: Cranial Nerves & Motor System
- Nervous System: Sensory System & Reflexes
- Nose, Mouth and Neck
- Peripheral Vascular System
- Thorax and Lungs
To access the videos, go to BLIS, the Library's catalog. Select Keyword and enter bates physical guide. The streaming video will be the first link in the list of results. Click the title and then click on the link to access online. For more information, please contact the Library Computer Center at 567-2481.
Melissa De Santis, M.L.I.S.
Assistant Library Director for Public Services
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ISI's Journal Citation Reports Available Online
The Library has recently purchased a subscription to the online science edition of Journal Citation Reports. JCR, produced by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), provides citation data ("performance metrics") about several thousand national and international journals that focus on science and technology, including the well-known "impact factors." JCR shows the relationships between citing journals and cited journals in an easy-to-use framework. Available data includes:
- Most frequently cited journals in a field
- Highest impact journals in a field
- Hottest journals in a field
- Leading journals in a field
- Most published articles in a field
JCR can be searched by groups of journals (grouped by subject category, publisher, or country), single journal title, or all journals. A brief tutorial is available for new users of JCR.
The most recent citation data has been compiled by ISI for 2003. ISI will make the 2004 information available when it has been completed. For years before 2003, the Briscoe Library will retain the print edition of Journal Citation Reports.
JCR can be accessed through the Library catalog or through the Databases tab on the Library's web site at http://www.library.uthscsa.edu. Due to licensing requirements, off-campus access to Journal Citation Reports is restricted to UTHSCSA students, staff, and faculty who are registered Library borrowers and who have set a PIN.
Questions about Journal Citation Reports can be directed to the Library's Information Desk at AskaLibrarian@uthscsa.edu or 567-2450.
Linda Levy, M.L.S.
Database Services Coordinator
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Public Library of Science Announces Three New Journals
In early January, Public Library of Science (PLoS) announced the launch three new open-access journals during 2005-PLoS Genetics, PLoS Computational Biology, and PLoS Pathogens. By expanding the scope of the PLoS open access publishing program, PLoS hopes to answer the increasing calls of scientists, scientific societies, and governments around the world for the free and open sharing of discoveries and data through reputable, high-quality, peer-reviewed journals targeted to specific research communities. PLoS uses the "author pays" publishing model, where journals are freely available on the Web, but authors pay publication fees. The UTHSCSA Library has an institutional membership to PLoS so UTHSCSA authors receive a 50 % discount toward publication fees. If you have questions about PLoS membership or journals, please contact Rajia Tobia, Associate Library Director for Collection Development, at tobia@uthscsa.edu.
Rajia Tobia, A.M.L.S.
Associate Library Director for Collection Development
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Editor of the Library News is Janna Lawrence (jlawrence@uthscsa.edu),
with assistance by Louie Barcenes III.
Suggestions, questions, and comments should be directed to AskaLibrarian@uthscsa.edu
