LIBRARY POSTAL RATE
The Medical Library Center of New York (MLCNY) publishes an online database, UCMP ONline, containing medical and health related journal holdings information that is updated every day. This database contains the holdings of over 730 libraries from major research collections to rural hospital libraries in the Northeast (Regions 1 and 8). The system includes almost 80,000 titles, 350.000 serial holdings records and over 50,800 SERLINE UIs. Many of the libraries report holdings at an issue specific level. In addition, this system is connected to DOCLINE via QuickDOC so that after finding libraries that have the exact issue you need, you can place an ILL order.
UCMP ONline has a number of other benefits such as:
The publisher and creator of the system, The Medical Library Center of
New York (MLCNY), is also a repository library with more than 375,000 medical
and health related older journals that are available for document delivery
on the day that they are requested via DOCLINE.
Any library can become a participant in this database and update their serial
holdings online or order copies of articles from MLCNY for the older literature.
To learn more UCMP ONline or the document delivery service, send us your
name, mailing address, fax and phone numbers and information about this
new online resource will be on its way to you.
Lois Weinstein, MLS, AHIP
Executive Director
The Medical Library Center of New York
Phone: (212) 427-1630 Fax: (212) 860-3496
email: mlcny@metgate.metro.org
Discussion is occuring at the federal level regarding the postal rate for
libraries. A recent bulletin from the ALA
Washington office provided background on the issue. According to ALA, in
testimony filed on December 30, 1997, the Postal Rate Commission's Office
of the Comsumer Advocate asked the Commission to reject the massive increases
proposed by the U.S. Postal Service for the Library Rate in the current
postal rate case. This is an issue that should be of interest to all types
of libraries. For more background
and information.
There are several articles discussing free Medline systems which I have
been collecting. Here are the citations:
The most recent one I came across is:
Wilson, Joan W. "Focus on PubMed" Online Nov/Dec 1997 p. 60-61
It turns out this is available on their website.
On the website there is also an article called:
"Do digital libraries need librarians? an experiential dialog"
as well as a review of HotBot (full text available)
Loven, Bridget and Barbara Lynn Eades "Free Web Medline Services Review"
MLA News (I don't have the month, but it is sometime in 1997) pages are
7-11
This reviews PubMed, Internet Grateful Med, HealthGate, Avicenna, BioMedNet,
Medscape and PhyNet
If anyone has other reviews to add to this list, I will summarize. I will
send out copies of the articles, if people request them, but preferably
please check the Web first for access to the Online article.
Mary Conchelos, Librarian 705-743-4251 x368
St. Joseph's Health Centre fax 705-740-8361
384 Rogers St.
Peterborough, ON K9H 7B6
mconchel@sjhhc.org
I've just found this reference,
seem to be really a good and complete evaluation of free medline.
Marc-Andre Jobin
Pfizer Canada Medical Library