Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Keeping Up to DateAllison Bell
Gerstein Science LibraryApril 7, 2011
Learning Objectives• Learn to create and maintain a personal
program to keep up to date and enhance professional competence
• Look at options and tools for keeping up to date
• Discuss methods to evaluate information sources
Practical methods for LLL
Good current awareness programs are:
• Efficient, preferably AUTOMATED “Set it and forget it”
• Focused on your highest priorities• Manageable (you can make time to
read what arrives)
Develop a Current Awareness Program
1. Set Goals2. Choose Activities3. Evaluate Success4. Re-tool if necessary
First: Set Goals• What news do I need to hear to do my job
properly?
• What news do I need to hear to keep up to date with my professional development?
• Identify knowledge gaps
• Passionate interests
Think of some current awareness goals for
yourself. What are they?
Second: Develop Activities
• Browser ‘Favourites’ or Bookmarks
• RSS
• Email Alerts
• TOC Alerts
Turn Each Goal into Activity
Example: • GOAL: Read everything new that comes
out about the Gardasil vaccine
• ACTIVITY: Set up an automated search or RSS feed in Pubmed for any new articles on the Gardasil/HPV vaccine
Key to Success:Make time in your schedule!
Third: Evaluate Effectiveness
• Too much? Too little? Bad/no results?
• Missing anything?
• Adjust, then try again
Intro to RSS
http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english
RSS: Feed Readers
• Google Reader
RSS: Feed Readers• Bloglines
RSS: Others…
• IE or Outlook • Awasu • FeedReader • NewsGator FeedDemon
Choose one that you find easy to use, easy to remember
Add RSS Feeds
Grey Lit/Gov Docs• Look for RSS symbol on Government
websites…
CDC Emergency Updates
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/coca/registry.asp
Feeds for Blogs
• @CochraneCollab
• @CDCemergency
• @CDCgov
• @gersteinlibrary
Automated Searches
• Perform search• Look for ‘Save Search’ button
Keep Current Using Pubmed
• RSS or Automated Searches• Clinical Queries (for evidence based
results)• Regular Pubmed search (for all
results)
Automated Searches Using Clinical Queries
Create RSS feed or Save Search
Saved Pubmed Search
Name it something meaningful
Email Alerts: Pubmed
Change the:
•frequency, •day of the week•format of delivery
to suit your preferences.
Your email address here…
Why set up RSS readers?
Maintain anonymityThey have your email address!
1-click “mark as read” = never see them again
Have to delete unwanted emails
Leave your email for real people
Clogs your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click
Unsubscribe requests may be ignored/delayed
RSSEmail
RSS: PubGet
Email Alerts: Evidence Updates
http://plus.mcmaster.ca/EvidenceUpdates/
Email Alerts: Evidence Updates
Email Alert Example
TOC alerts
• Can be via email or RSS depending on the journal.
• You do not need to subscribe to the journal
“Each feed lists the contents of the latest issue, with article summaries”
TOCs through RSS
New Articles through Email
TicTOCS
http://www.tictocs.ac.uk/
Keeping Current: Where to Start?
• Canadian Journal of Public Health
• American Journal of Epidemiology
• American Journal of Public Health
• Health Affairs
• Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)
More titles in the Public Health Research Guide:
http://guides.library.utoronto.ca/publichealth
Be Picky when Picking Sources
Pick professional sources for….
• Reliability (both content AND schedule)
• Can it deliver in a set-and-forget mode?
• Relevance to your learning GOALS
What about your clients?
Some considerations:
• Pick patient information sources for…
–Quality (reflect latest/best knowledge)
–Readability (consider levels, language)
–Usability/learning styles (Interactive? Print?)
Critical Evaluation of Web Sources
• More advertising= be more wary!–Pop ups? ‘Scam’ Ads?
• Statements of responsibility, credentials
• Quality of content, interface
• How current?
• Personal information collected/used?
Free Consumer Health Sources
• http://medlineplus.gov/
• Toronto Public Library Health Information: http://chis.wikidot.com/
Questions?
![Speak Up! Young People and Health in Barnsley [Pro Version]](https://img.pdfslide.tips/doc/110x75/568c4a691a28ab491698086c/speak-up-young-people-and-health-in-barnsley-pro-version.jpg)
