ewood%phad.hsc.usc.edu@usc.edu (Elizabeth H. Wood) (01/12/90)
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The University of Southern California (USC) Norris Medical Library is also
mounting MEDLINE on a mainframe to replace CD-ROM end-user searching. We
have ten years of MEDLINE using 3 levels of BRS search interface. Local
programmers have made it possible to "explode" MeSH headings. Users can
search from any of 24 stations within the library or can apply for access
codes to search from their own office/lab/clinic by dial-up or Ethernet
connection. In the first six weeks, 200 users have applied for these remote
access codes! The 3 levels of interface are: one very simple method designed
mainly for undergraduates, a "SearchMate" interface which we are recommending
for Health Science users, BRS Colleague for those already familiar with it,
and a version of BRS native mode ("dot-dot") --OOPS that 4 interfaces!!
Weekly classes are held at the library for users within the library. The
Computer Services section supports dial-up users with telecommunications
advice. For users within the library there is a high-speed laser print for
print-outs from all the stations. MEDLINE is one of several databases
offered in this way. Others are Magazine Index, Trade & Industry, Computers,
Arts and Humanities, Business, and Science & Technology. The whole thing is
called USCInfo. As far as we know, we are the only library offering 10 years
of MEDLINE. We are just beginning and so far the response is very positive.
We would love to share experiences with others doing this. Elizabeth Wood.