Current News
- Thanksgiving Hours Changed for Library Renovations NEW
- PubMed Replacing Ovid for Medline Access NEW
- BLAST and NCBI databases class
- New Full-Text Linking Now Available with PubMed
- New AML Website Launched: July 1, 2009
- Holiday Hours for July 3rd & 4th
- Library & LRC Summer Hours: June 7, 2009 - Sept. 6, 2009
- New Resource: Exam Master OnLine- Study tool for the USMLE and more!
- NIH Public Access Policy took effect April 7, 2008
- Attention Students: Copy Card Distribution Reminder
- Go to News Archives for news from previous semesters
The Medical Library and LRC Hours will be changed for the Thanksgiving weekend due to the beginning of the 12th floor Library renovation. The initial construction phase will include the removal of a wall to expand Library space, disassembly of shelving ranges, installation of a new ceiling with improved lighting, installation of a new entryway, painting, and HVAC work.
Since the Thanksgiving weekend is one of the least busy weekends in the Library, we plan to make progress on some of the noisiest aspects of the renovation in order to minimize disruption during busier periods.
The Medical Library and LRC will be closed on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28. However, in order to provide access to computers we will open the McNary R-107 computer classroom on these days.
| Library | LRC | |
| Wednesday, November 25 | 7:30 am - 6:00pm | 8:30 am - 5:30 pm |
| Thursday, November 26 | Closed | Closed |
| Friday, November 27 | McNary R-107 only 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | Closed |
| Saturday, November 28 | McNary R-107 only 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | Closed |
| Sunday, November 29 | 2:00 am - 10:00pm | 2:30 am - 9:30pm |
**Please note that the BU Charles River Campus Mugar Library is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For Mugar Library Thanksgiving Weekend Hours of Operation, please view the 'Holidays & Other Exceptions for Fall 2009' table at http://www.bu.edu/library/mugar/hours.html#holidays.
As of November 1, 2009, the BUMC Alumni Medical Library will no longer subscribe to Ovid for accessing Medline and a collection of Evidence-based Medicine databases. Ovid is an expensive resource, and during difficult financial times we have made the decision that it is more important to retain e-journal subscriptions than to provide access to two versions of the same database.
Our decision was made after the following considerations:
- Access to the Medline database will continue via the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) free-of-charge PubMed.
- The NLM produces the Medline database, and PubMed provides the most updated access to journal article citations and abstracts, and links to licensed full-text articles.
- Most students/residents will not have access to Ovid in the future, while PubMed will always be available free-of-charge on the Web. In this sense, Library Education providing advanced Medline skills instruction using PubMed is more effective towards teaching lifelong information skills.
- Library technology has improved with the introduction of SFX at BU, and the more recent integration with PubMed. Prior to this, Ovid had provided access to all of our Library licensed journals while PubMed had been providing access to approximately 65% of the Library's full-text licensed journals due to technical issues; this is no longer the case.
- The single platform for Medline and EBM databases is no longer essential since EBM databases are easily located on the Medical Library's website due to the development and integration of
resources on Library Subject A - Z pages:
- Finally, there have always been disadvantages to subscribing to the Ovid EBM databases due to limited concurrent user licensing restrictions, which resulted in 'licenses exceeded'
messages to users. We will retain access to all of the EBM databases previously delivered on Ovid, but via different vendors with the advantage of unlimited concurrent users as follows
(links also available from above Subject Guides or via the E-Resources 'Databases' link at http://www.medlib.bu.edu/indexes/):
An NLM update to PubMed is imminent, and once completed BUMC librarians will either link to NLM-developed online tutorials or we will develop our own instructional modules. BUMC librarians will offer PubMed workshops or individual by-appointment instructional sessions upon request during this transition period.
** Important note for Ovid users currently using the 'Saved Searches/Alerts' function: Ovid saved searches will not be accessible after December 30. This function is available in PubMed, but you will need to manually replicate these searches.
Please contact the BUMC Library's Reference Desk at (617) 638-4228 or refquest@bu.edu for assistance, questions about PubMed or to provide feedback.
The SFX linking service is now available with PubMed. This feature allows users to link directly from PubMed to full-text journal articles available through the Alumni Medical Library from on and off-campus. To access the new services, visit PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezproxy.bu.edu/sites/entrez?otool=mabummlib. If you have questions about linking to full text from PubMed, please contact Library's Reference Desk at refquest@bu.edu or (617) 638-4228.
The Library will offer a class covering NCBI databases and tips for using the BLAST tool for sequence alignment. The class is 12:30-1:30 on November 3rd, 2009. See this page for more information and registration.
The Alumni Medical Library is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at http://medlib.bu.edu. Along with an updated look and feel designed to comply with new university branding standards, the site has been reorganized to offer users more clear and direct access to electronic resources and information about the library.
Features of the new site include:
- A new Quick Search feature at the top of every page. The search box allows users to link into the BU Library catalog or conduct a title search for e-journals, e-books, or content listed on the Library's website.
- Reorganized resource boxes that offer quick and easy access to major databases, catalogs, and information on the library services.
- An updated look that will allow for more seamless integration with other BUMC websites.
The Library will be open Friday, July 3rd 10:00 am - 4:00 pm; the LRC will be open Friday, July 3rd 10:30 am - 3:30 pm. The Library and LRC are closed Saturday, July 4th, Independence Day.
| Library | LRC | |
| Monday - Thursday | 7:30 am – 10:00 pm | 8:30 am – 9:30 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am – 6:00 pm | 8:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Saturday and Sunday | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm |
The Library will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Regular Hours will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.
Exam Master (http://www.exammaster2.com.ezproxy.bu.edu/wdsentry/bumc.htm) is a study tool for the USMLE, board certification exams, NBDE and to review medical subjects. This resource is available for use with Internet Explorer only. Using Exam Master, you can create customized exams that are presented in both a "Test" simulation mode and a "Study" review mode with correct answers and explanations accessible. Score reporting utilities provide immediate feedback and allow for targeted learning based on your test results. For more information about using Exam Master, please contact Library's Reference Desk at refquest@bu.edu or (617) 638-4228.
Any peer-reviewed publications arising from NIH-funded research on or after April 7, 2008 must be submitted to the National Library of Medicine's public access repository, PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov). As mandated by the federal government, manuscripts from NIH-funded research will be made publicly available no later than 12 months after publication. Researchers should submit their manuscripts electronically through the NIH Manuscript Submission System at http://www.nihms.nih.gov/.
Additionally, researchers are responsible for notifying publishers that a manuscript is subject to the NIH policy. For more information on this process, please visit the NIH Public Access page at http://publicaccess.nih.gov or the BUMC Office of Research Administration NIH policy page. The NIH also hosts a 'PMID : PMCID Converter tool' as well as additional useful resources & tools at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/public_access/resources.html.
If you have additional questions, please contact Jane Kinsel at the Office of Research Administration at (617) 638-4600 or the Library's Reference Desk at refquest@bu.edu or (617) 638-4228.
BUSM, BUGMS, BUSDM and BUSPH students are eligible to receive 100 free pages (equivalent of 200 images if you use double-sided printing) during EACH of the following two time periods:
- January 1 – June 30, and
- July 1 – December 31.
The 100 free pages can be picked up on any date during each of the two periods. Students must show a valid Boston University ID in order to receive their copies/prints. Copies/prints may be picked up at the Library Circulation Desk, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm.
