PubMed/Medline Recipes for a Federated Search Presentation to 2011 NCNMLG/MLGSCA Joint Meeting, San Francisco, CA February 24, 2011 Marcia Henry, Health Sciences Librarian California State University Northridge

Abstract Government Printing Office announced in October a federated search tool using the ExLibris Metalib service. My presentation will address why you may want to search PubMed in the GPOs federated search. The initial release of GPOs MetaLib contains fifty-three Federal Government databases, including PubMed, NIH, and the NLM gateway. The study I am presenting uses several search examples: a disease, a chemical/drug, a current health topic. What resources does the GPO's Metalib uncover? What skills and understanding does a searcher (librarian, health practitioner, general public) need to search GPO Metalib effectively? GPO has a growing list of full text documents and this study investigates if the use of the new federated search interface will offer quicker access to readily available full text. This is very relevant to libraries facing budget and staff cutbacks. Are there tools out there we can promote to our users that offer rapid delivery of authoritative full text?

Recipes for PubMed in General resources Health & Safety Build your own set of databases

What resources does the GPO's Metalib uncover? Depends upon the resources the searcher chooses Default categories which include PubMed are General Resources or Health and Safety

What skills and understanding does a searcher need to search GPO Metalib effectively ? Ability to read complex help screens carefully Willingness to venture past the Basic search screen Ability and willingness to read the information screens describing the currently available 53 resources e.g. subjec tResource Details Type: Subject Gateway Description: As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government. Publisher: United States General Services Administration Search Hints: Use the first search box only. All searches are done in All Fields.

Ability to work read and interpret symbols

Suggested Future Enhancements

PubMed record metalib.gpo.gov

Sample Search 1 created custom set

Sample Search 1 custom set-airport security risks

What resources does the GPO's Metalib identify?.

NLM Gateway results can only be viewed at NLM gateway

NLM gateway cannot be viewed in metalib.gpo.gov

Expert Search Box

Discussion Offers opportunities to search PubMed, NLM Gateway, NIH, various EPA and... resources simultaneously Lacking step by step tutorials Leads to many freely available full text resources PubMed does not link out to Medlineplus links are hidden in PubMed, more likely to be retrieved if PubMed and NIH are searched simultaneously Do librarians have a head start over general public?

Acknowledgements Luiz Mendes CSUN Library Electronic Resources Librarian