SAGE Research Methods arrives

Sage Research MethodsUT Southwestern Health Sciences Digital Library and Learning Center now has online access to SAGE Research Methods (SRM) for the next three years (2015-2017).  This resource was purchased through our consortial partnership with The University of Texas System using Academic Library Collection Enhancement Program (ALCEP) funds allocated by the UT System Board of Regents for one-time collection purchases.

SRM is a research methods resource created to help researchers, faculty, and students with their research projects. It includes links to more than 175,000 pages of SAGE’s book, journal, and reference content with advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings.

Chronicle of Higher Education campus access update

logo_chronicleAfter December 31, 2014, the Library’s subscription to The Chronicle of Higher Education will no longer include “domain access.” This means that users will no longer be able to create and use personal accounts to access Chronicle content via iPad, smartphone, or tablet.

In addition, personal accounts will no longer provide access to the Chronicle website from off-campus. Remote access through EZproxy and VPN will remain. Previously created personal accounts will be deleted after the last day of December. Users will still be able to sign up to receive alerts at the Chronicle site.

ALCEP funds bring The Lancet, physical & analytical chemistry, and psychology

The UT Southwestern Health Sciences Digital Library and Learning Center now has online access to every single issue of The Lancet published since the journal was founded in 1823. The Lancet backfiles on ScienceDirect (1823-1994) were recently purchased by the University of Texas System Academic Library Collection Enhancement Program (ALCEP) funds, which are allocated by the UT System Board of Regents for one-time collection purchases.

ALCEP funds also obtained two additional ScienceDirect backfile subject collections, with access starting from volume one:

ClinicalKey to replace MD Consult/First Consult August 31, 2014

Clinical_KeyClinicalKey, the newest clinical decision making product from Elsevier, will officially replace the soon to be discontinued MD Consult and First Consult on August 31, 2014.

ClinicalKey, which is accessible through the Library’s website under Popular Links, is a comprehensive resource that combines MD Consult and First Consult functions with exciting new enhancements, such as the following:

  • New functionality and central location of information including a preview feature
  • Registration log-in may be linked to a Scopus and SciVal Funding account
  • Multi-platform mobile app available upon registration confirmation (on-campus registration required)
  • New content updates available by RSS feed or blog
  • Reading list functions that allow the creation and exporting of a bibliography
  • Procedures consult that includes video, images, and written instructions, as well as an updated Microsoft Excel spreadsheet of all existing consults

For questions or training on how to use ClinicalKey, email LibSearchers@utsouthwestern.edu.

Non-Medical Bonus Titles in the Library Ejournal Collection

As a member of several library consortia groups, the Library obtains substantial savings on top-ranking biomedical journals included in consortial ejournal packages. Library consortia leverage the purchasing power of member institutions, which results in access to an expanded number of journal titles and other resources for each participating institution. Along with essential medical and health care periodicals, the bundled packages widen support for each institution’s services and programs by including titles from a variety of other disciplines and interests. Visit Ejournals & Ebooks A to Z to access bonus titles such as:

  • Architectural Design
  • Christian Science Monitor
  • Consumer Reports
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Network Security
  • Texas Monthly
  • Many more!

To learn more about searching for ejournals, please see Using Ejournals A to Z and Ejournals A to Z FAQ Tutorial.

Book and journal relocation update

DSC_0023On Monday, August 19, 2013, the Library initiated an extensive project to relocate the print book and journal collections to the University of Texas System/Texas A&M Joint Library Facility (JLF), which is located in College Station.  Our collection is recognized as the most comprehensive medical collection in Texas, and it will become the core of a shared resource that will be used by students and faculty throughout the state, including the new UT System medical schools in Austin and South Texas.

The Library staff has been working on the relocation project, and we anticipate meeting the following deadlines to clear materials from the Middle and Top floors of the Library:

  • February 14, 2014 – Final book and journal inventory lists sent to JLF
  • February 28, 2014 – Inventory of books and journals complete.
  • April 1-15, 2014 – Library Design Systems Inc. pack and load books and journals
  • April 16, 2014 – Middle and Top floors cleared of books and journals
  • April 16-30, 2014 – Middle and Top floors cleared of shelving and other unnecessary items

The relocated collection will be available electronically or through interlibrary loan; there will be no charge to request UTSW Library books located at the JLF. The Library’s collection of electronic books and journals will remain available through its website, library.utsouthwestern.edu.

The Library will retain a small print collection of titles held on reserve, as well as rare, unique, and archival materials, which may be used in the Library.

There will be increased noise and activity to the Middle and Top Floors during the next few months as we prepare the books and journals. Temporary Top and Middle floor access closure notifications should also be expected at this time.

The vacated space on the Library’s Middle and Top floors will be utilized for new educational initiatives.

Open Access Week: Starting your own journal

Open-AccessInterested in starting an open access journal or migrating an existing open access journal? The Library can help publish open access journals using resources available through the Texas Digital Library. The publishing workflow is managed using Open Journals System (OJS) software. Features include:

  • Handling online submissions from authors
  • Managing the peer-review process
  • Publishing issues online
  • Indexing content

The submission requirements, peer-review process, and the journal’s look and feel are customizable. OJS can also manage subscription-based journals with delayed open access options. Email notification and commenting tools further enhance the publication workflow.

The Texas Digital Library provides a list of existing hosted peer-reviewed online journals. Another journal using OJS is the UBC Medical Journal (a student-run academic journal that hopes to engage students in dialogs in medicine).

eLife, Biomedical Imaging and Intervention, and the Open Women’s Health Journal are some other examples of biomedical open access journals. Some journals provide limited open access. BMJ provides open access articles for all research articles published.

For more information about starting or migrating an open access journal, contact the library at libwebmaster@utsouthwestern.edu. Training and other assistance is available.

Library unable to renew many journals for 2012

Due to budget reductions for FY2012 and estimated price increases of 6-8%, the Library will be cancelling selected electronic journals, electronic books, databases, print monograph series, and other resources for 2012. The entire list in PDF searchable format is available on the Library’s web site.

Foremost is the cancellation of five journal packages:

  • Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) database and journals
  • Oxford University Press
  • Springer
  • Thieme
  • Liebert

For many years, the Library has purchased the majority of its electronic resources as bundled packages from different publishers. These journal packages, which are negotiated and licensed through membership in several consortia, have given Library users access to thousands of titles that are shared by all members of the consortium. Group purchasing power and negotiated price caps have helped to offset the 33% rise in prices since 2007.

However, terms of publisher license agreements do not allow for selective cancellation; the entire package must be cancelled. Any individual journals that are selected to keep must be purchased separately at full, non-discounted prices, severely limiting the number of titles that may be retained.

While some cancellations have already taken effect, most will occur with the first issue of 2012. Access to older content will remain in most instances. Some titles may continue to be available after an embargo period. However, Library staff will be happy to obtain articles for you from cancelled journals through interlibrary loan requests.

Collection purchases account for more than 90% of the Library’s operating budget. Every consideration has been given to high-use resources, but the cancellations will have wide impact. If you identify an urgently-needed title on the cancellation list, please send a recommendation and justification to liberesources@utsouthwestern.edu, and it will be considered. Other comments may be sent to Laurie Thompson, Assistant Vice President for Library Services, laurie.thompson@utsouthwestern.edu.

What's Find it! @ Library?

This icon provides direct access to journal articles from selected databases:

By clicking on the icon, you are usually linked directly to the full text of the article. You may be provided with three other options for obtaining the article:

Go to Find It! UTSW Library FAQ for more information on the “Find it!” icon.

What's an embargo?

Frustrated because a link in Ejournals A-Z doesn’t take you to the most recent articles?
Explanation: The publisher has placed a restriction on access, called an “embargo period.” This means that the most recent articles are not yet available.* These embargo periods range from three months to a year or more depending on publisher policies.
* If you need the article now, you might be able to obtain this journal article through your Library’s Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) Service.
Suggestion: Be sure and read availability dates that appear next to the access link for embargo period information. (Put on your glasses to read the fine print!) For example:
Nutrition bulletin

Academic Search Complete 2000 to present (Embargo: 1 year)
CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO Publishing) 2003 to present (Embargo: 1 year)