1. VCOM LIBRARY WEBSITE TUTORIAL
Welcome to the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine Library Webpage Tutorial
Created by Stephanie S. Gardner, Assistant Medical Librarian, 2007

2. The Restricted Library
Things you can do through the VCOM Library Webpage
The Public Library
Find reliable healthcare information
Browse for citations of articles in PubMed
Review local news and events
Access medical and world news
Search free medical databases
Read free medical eBooks
Information concerning osteopathic history, osteopathic education, and rural health
Access OSTMED.DR®
Access the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine website
The Restricted Library
All of the public library functions
Access full text eJournals to which VCOM subscribes
Access full text eBooks to which VCOM subscribes
Utilize subscription medical databases
Search medical dictionaries online
Explore subscription medical databases which VCOM is previewing
Print forms to request interlibrary loan articles
Access archived Blackboard curriculum
Access information on ExamMaster

3. How to get to the VCOM Library webpage
Type into your browser. Or
Enter through the VCOM website:
There is a link to the library in the Resources Section
You may wish to bookmark the website

4. What is the difference between the VCOM Public Library and the VCOM Restricted Library?
Both virtual libraries are located on the VCOM Library webpage, but the Restricted Library contains resources that may only be accessed by VCOM students and faculty. You must log in to the Restricted Library.

5. Getting Started in the VCOM Public Library
The Public Library Section contains links to  
Library Information
Consumer and Patient Health
Free Medical Journals
  Free Medical Texts
Medical News
Medical Topics
Osteopathic History  
Osteopathic Museum
  World News Headlines

6. Medical and Biomedical Databases Section
It contains links to
National Center for Biotechnology Information
National Institutes of Health
National Library of Medicine
PubMed
OSTMED.DR®

7. VCOM’s Favorites Section
It contains links to
     Blacksburg Health   
VCOM Newsletter   
VCOM Virtual Tour   
AACOM Colleges    
AOA     
AOA Predoctoral     
  JAOA Magazine    
NRHA    
Journal of Rural Health 
VA OHPP Access Newsletter 
  VRHA   
VRH Resource Center

8. Blacksburg, VA Section It contains links to Area Libraries Area Maps
Local Events
Local News

9. Logging in to the VCOM Restricted Library

10. A note on Access to the Restricted Library
Access to the VCOM Restricted Library is provided for VCOM faculty and students in accordance with U.S. copyright law and licensing agreements with publishers and vendors. Access to the Restricted Library requires a user name and password. If you have forgotten your password, please call the library at (540) You may also Elaine at or Stephanie at

11. What are eJournals and how do you find them?
eJournals are electronic journals. For a listing of VCOM subscription journals and where they are located, use the “Journals in the VCOM Library” link in the Restricted Library. The link opens a spreadsheet showing the journals and the databases in which they can be found.
For example:
American Family Physician
Jan 1999 – current
Is found Online in MDConsult

12. Finding eJournals Continued
Go to the Database that has the Journal
Click on the link “eMedical Journals”
Select the eJournal’s location (found in the spreadsheet) from this list of links:
JAOA
MD Consult
New England Journal of Medicine

13. Accessing an eJournal in OVID
Click on the link
Click on the third link down, “Your
Click on the “Browse Journals” link on the right side of the page
Select the eJournal you wish to read by clicking the “Issue List” link
Select the “Table of Contents” for the eJournal you wish to read
Click on “OVID full text”
There will be a link on the right side of the page to the article in PDF format. This is useful for mailing and printing the article.

14. Accessing an eJournal in MD Consult
Click on the “MD Consult” link
Select the Journals tab at the top of the MD Consult page
Enter information about the article for which you are looking in the search box on the top of the page and press the Search button.
If there are no results, refine your search
If there are results, click on the “Full Text,” or “PDF” link below the journal’s search results

15. PubMed Another way to find eJournal Articles
PubMed(Medline) is a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. It provides citations to articles in medical journals. In some cases, it provides access to full text journal articles.
PubMed is free to all, but if you are logged into the Restricted Library PubMed will recognize you as a VCOM user and will provide access to more full text.
PubMed Basics:

16. Finding an Article Citation in PubMed
PubMed can be found in both the VCOM Public Library and the Restricted Library under the Medical and Biomedical Databases section or at
Locate and click on the “Single Citation" link on the left of the page.
Enter the information that you know about the article into the boxes and
press go.
If a citation of your article does not appear, go back and refine your search.
To see if the article is available in free full text, click on the “Links” link to the far right of the citation and select “LinkOut” from the dropdown menu. Click on links that read “Full text” within the item records.
Note: Make certain you are logged into the VCOM Restricted Library in order to use VCOM’s subscriptions!
If you find a citation for an article that you need, but the article is not available in full text, the VCOM Librarian can request it for you through interlibrary loan.

17. Searching PubMed with MeSH Terms
MeSH terms are a controlled vocabulary that help the user find the way topics are indexed in PubMed.
Go to the MeSH terms section of PubMed by clicking on the “MeSH Database” link on the left side of the PubMed homepage.
There is a link on the page that goes to the MeSH browser.
You can search for MeSH terms by entering subjects in the browser to see if they match the generated MeSH terms. For best results, use MeSH terms for searching PubMed.
Searching PubMed with MeSH:

18. Are You Ready to Find eBooks?
eBooks are books published in electronic format. You can search and read them by computer.
To see the ones to which VCOM subscribes and find where they are located, use the “eMedical Books” link in the Restricted Library. Click on the “Where to Find eMedical Books” link. The link opens a spreadsheet showing book titles and the databases in which they can be found.
For example: Aminoff MJ Clinical Neurology 6ed McGraw-Hill is found online in OVID

19. Accessing an eBook in OVID
Log in to the Restricted Library
Click on the “eMedical Books” link
Click on the link
Click on the link from within OVID, the first link on the page.
A list of books will appear. Click on the one you want.
Links on the left side of the page let you navigate through the eBook.

20. Accessing an eBook in MD Consult
1. Log in to the Restricted Library
2. Click on the “eMedical Books” link
3. Click on the “MD Consult” link
4. Click on the “Books” tab at the top of the page.
5. Select the book you want from the list.
6. Links on the left of the page let you navigate within the eBook.

21. Accessing an eBook in Stat!Ref
1. Log in to the Restricted Library
2. Click on the “eMedical Books” link
3. Click on the “Stat!Ref” link
4. Click on the table of contents
5. Click on the link to the eBook you wish to read
6. Click on the link for the section of the book you wish to read

22. What about books and electronic media found on the library shelves?
Public Domain Image. Visual by

23. How to find a book in print on the VCOM Library Shelves
Go to the VCOM Library webpage
Click the link “VCOM Library Book Catalog”
Use the dropdown menu to search by subject, author, title, call number or journal title.
Enter your search term in the box and press the Search button.
You will see a list of titles. Click on the ones about which you want more information.
A list of books with their call numbers will appear. If you need help finding a book on the shelf, please contact the library staff.

24. What if you need a book or journal article that the VCOM Library does not have?
There are forms found under the “Library Services” link in the Restricted Library to use for requesting a journal article and for requesting a book or a book chapter. Fill out as much information as possible and bring or the form to the VCOM Library.
These forms are also found in the library in the wooden rack at the back of the room.
Public Domain Image. Visual by

25. eMedical Trials
There is a section of the Restricted Library called eMedical trials. It contains links to resources that VCOM is considering for purchase. Current Trials and Past Trials are found under this link.
The VCOM Library welcomes feedback on these trial resources.

26. What else can you do on the VCOM Library website?
There are many databases in the Public and Restricted Libraries. Follow the links to updated medical information, organizations, and news regarding public health, osteopathic medicine, and rural health.

27. OSTMED.DR
Library features in development include OSTMED.DR®. The OSTMED.DR® project is dedicated to promoting access to the scholarly activity occurring within the osteopathic profession. The project will also serve as a valuable resource for historical documents in osteopathic medicine. OSTMED.DR® is an osteopathic digital library created by a partnership between VCOM and VTLS in OSTMED.DR® builds upon OSTMED®, the Osteopathic Literature Database (a bibliographic index) sponsored by the American Osteopathic Association and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

28. The VCOM Library will soon feature a searchable database of faculty publications. PathFinders will also soon be available. These are lists of VCOM Library materials on different topics.

29. VCOM Library Contact Information
Contact information and hours for VCOM Library are found under the “Library Information” link in the Public Library.
The VCOM Library telephone number is
(540) s of the library staff are
and