HDAS improvement project feedback required by 27th November

Work has begun to improve the HDAS service, specifically its performance and stability. NICE have created a space to share information and provide feedback.

FAQs about this project and an early prototype are available to view here: http://labs.nice.org.uk/hdas-redevelopment 

Feedback can also be given at the above link but the deadline for the first round of comments closes on Friday 27th November, so be quick!

Project updates will be posted regularly on the above link and will also be shared on the library email lists.

Literature search tips: saving those search blocks

This week's literature search tip comes from our Clinical Librarian Service Manager, Pip Divall:

If you run literature searches that include a regular topic or block of terms, for example, all terms relating to paediatrics, save those terms or block of the search to use next time. Also, don't forget to share those search strategies with colleagues too!

There's a great article on saving search  here: http://eahil.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/11-14-de-Jonge.pdf

We hope you like today's tip! Stay tuned for more and please do share your thoughts in the comments field below or on our Twitter page and catch up on our previous literature search tips here.

Literature search tips: Yale MeSH Analyzer for ninja systematic review librarians

This week's literature search tip comes from our Clinical Librarian, Sarah Sutton:


Yale have created a MeSH Analyzer, which allows you to design and refine searches. It shows you how key articles are indexed by retrieving the article metadata and presenting it in an easy-to-read grid.

To use the tool, paste up to 20 PubMed identifier/PMIDs into the text box and click on, "Go". MeSH Analyzer will retrieve the article data from PubMed and present it in a grid in either HTML or Excel. 

There are options to customise the tool and you can also do the analysis in one step by installing a browser on your toolbar.

This tool is great for finding MeSH terms, term variants and give you an insight into why some articles are retrieved and others are not.


We hope you like today's tip! Stay tuned for more and please do share your thoughts in the comments field below or on our Twitter page and catch up on our previous literature search tips here.

Free subscription to MLA discussion list!

Did you know that there is a MLA special interest medical libraries discussion list? It is free and available to all, including non MLA members.

Before subscribing you must read the discussion list guidelines first, which are available here: http://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=377 Online subscription is available here: http://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=MEDLIB-L&A=1

This is great for those who are not currently a member of MLA but would like to be kept in the loop of medical library discussions.

Also, don't forget anyone can join the clinical librarian mailing list for free too!
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=CLIN-LIB

PROSPERO: international prospective register of systematic reviews

PROSPERO is an international register of systematic reviews. It is produced by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York and it holds over 10,000 published records.

PROSPERO increases transparency and helps reduce unplanned duplication by allowing readers to compare published research and prospectively submit systematic review protocol details first.

Find out more here: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/

Literature search tips: how to translate from OVID to EBSCO

This week's literature search tip comes from our Clinical Librarian Service Manager, Pip Divall:

Use this handy help sheet for translating a search from OVID to EBSCO:
http://support.ebsco.com/downloads/printeddocs/en_cinahl_ehosttransition_helpsheet.pdf

We hope you like today's tip! Stay tuned for more and please do share your thoughts in the comments field below or on our Twitter page and catch up on our previous literature search tips here.