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MUSC Library's Ovid search service acquires new look by Marcia Reinhardt and Peggy Mauldin MUSC Library Recent changes to the MUSC Library’s Ovid search service have resulted in a slightly new look and improved services.  These changes also include the addition of three new databases.  One change, Ovid’s migration from a local server to a distant online server, should appear seamless to the user. This change means that the databases will be updated more frequently and in a more timely manner. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO are updated weekly and AutoAlerts, Ovid’s current awareness service, are now available in these databases on a weekly basis.  New databases include MUSC Journals @ Ovid, Ovid MEDLINE (R) InProcess and Other Non-Indexed Citations and Ovid OLDMEDLINE(R.)  Of particular interest and utility is the new MUSC Journals @ Ovid. This database includes  259 electronic journals to which the library subscribes and  that are indexed by Ovid MEDLINE. Ninety-four  titles, formerly only available in print, are now online;  some examples are Circulation, the American Journal of Nursing, the Journal of ECT, the Journal of Endodontics, Neuroreport, the Southern Medical Journal, and Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation.  One hundred sixty-five of these titles are completely  new subscriptions for the library.  Selected new titles are Diagnostic Molecular Pathology, the American Journal of Dermatopathology, Topics in Language Disorders, Shock, Menopause, and the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care.  MUSC Journals @ Ovid does not provide full text access to all the journals indexed in Ovid Medline nor does it provide such access to all MUSC Library journal subscriptions.  Searching conventions are similar to those in the other Ovid databases; however, significant search elements are missing. Article author, journal title, and keyword searches of the article title and abstract are available.  Medical subject headings are not assigned; the explode and focus capabilities are not options in this database.  The Browse Journals feature presents a list of the journals included in the database arranged by title or by subject.  This feature can be used to navigate to the table of contents of individual issues of a journal. Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO search results link easily to the resources in MUSC Journals @ OVID. In addition, the titles in MUSC Journals @ OVID can be reached from the Full Text Journals @ MUSC Library Web page (http://www.library.musc.edu/fulltext/journals.html) and the E Journal Web page (http://www.library.musc.edu/e-journals.html.)  The full text of these titles can also be reached through MUSCLS, the Library catalog. The records in Ovid MEDLINE (R) InProcess and Other Non-Indexed Citations consist of articles with minimal indexing, that is  only author, article title and journal name.  These are preliminary records which will either receive complete indexing and move into the full MEDLINE database or are determined to be out of the scope of MEDLINE and will remain in the InProcess file. Once an article receives complete indexing and is moved to the MEDLINE database it will be dropped from the InProcess file.  The articles, which remain permanently in the InProcess file, are generally scientific but not related to health and medicine. For example, health and medically related articles found in Science and Nature will eventually be included in the MEDLINE database but the other articles from those two journals will remain in the InProcess file.  Ovid MEDLINE (R) InProcess and Other Non-Indexed Citations is updated daily. This database extends the currency of the MEDLINE file, and for complete coverage, a search should be performed in both the In Process and MEDLINE databases. OLDMEDLINE includes biblio-graphic records originally included in the paper indexes produced by the National Library of Medicine.  Currently, the covered years are 1950 through 1965.  This file is intended to grow back through time.  While this incredible wealth of information is extremely valuable, this database does not include many of the useful features of the more recent MEDLINE database. There are no abstracts, indeed the MEDLINE database does not include abstracts before 1975. The OLDMEDLINE records do not include the depth of indexing employed in the MEDLINE file nor were the concepts of populations, age groups and other types of useful limits applied consistently in the past.  Explode and Focus, two functions of special utility in the MEDLINE file are not options in the OLDMEDLINE file.   Essentially, all searches in OLDMED-LINE, other than author or journal title searches are keyword searches.  What does this mean for a searcher? When formulating a search strategy, all synonyms for a term must be used.For example, in the case of a drug, both the generic and trade names must be used in the search strategy.  The library hopes users will find the additions and improvements to the Ovid search service of value. The Ask a Librarian feature is available from within Ovid as well. For more information, instruction or a demonstration, contact the reference department at 792-2372.  Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.