End User Searching in the Health Sciences

Abstract

p. $29.95. This is the first collection of original papers to appear on end-user searching in the health sciences, and represents most of the leading authors and programs in the field. The first section, "The Environment of End-User Searching," opens with a wonderful opinion paper by Winifred Sewell that addresses the overriding concern of the volume: vendor marketing directly to end users. Sewell views end-user searching as part of the health information transfer process and identifies the many resulting new roles for librarians. Her paper, like the others in this volume, discusses positive approaches for librarians based on the assumption that end-user searching is here to stay.The remainder of the first section is replete with informative, well written papers on end-user systems and new roles for librarians, mounting MED-LINE subsets on local computers, determining the content of training programs, developing instructional aids, teaching end-user services, and information management education. The only part of the end-user environment not represented is the MEDLINE database on CD-ROM and optical disc-technologies under development at publication and therefore only referenced as a future development.