Last week NLM implemented a change to the PubMed interface that many searchers may find convenient. The “Limit” link has disappeared from the search results display, replaced by a list of Filters to the left of the results. The Filters offer the same choices that were previously available through limits — Languages, Publication Dates, Article Types, etc. For each category, the most frequently used choices are immediately visible — additional choices for each category are available by clicking the MORE link. As with the Limits, Filter choices “stick” through subsequent searches, and can be cleared using a “Clear All” link at the top of the search results or the list of Filters.
BEWARE of Full Text Available limits!
They restrict your results to articles that selected publishers have indicated may be available online. That does not necessarily have any relationship to what is available through Drexel Libraries’ subscribed sources. To see what is available to you through Drexel, first, access PubMed via the links from the Libraries website — these links include “coding” that connect you to Drexel resources. When you click the title of a citation, you’ll see the more complete record (including the abstract when available) with the Drexel “GetIt” button to the right. Alternatively, you can change the display of your full list to show abstracts and the “GetIt” buttons, using the Display Settings link at the top of the list.
My NCBI
Of course, if you set up and log in to your own My NCBI accounts, you can use the Outside Tool (in Site Preferences) to always display Drexel linking. A My NCBI account also gives you the opportunity to set up customized filters for your searchers and, of course, to save search strategies and receive alerts via email when new articles match your interests.
Our Health Sciences librarians are happy to help you set up a My NCBI account, or brush up your PubMed searching skills: just call us at 215-762-7184 (Hahnemann Library) or 215-991-8740 (Queen Lane Library).
