I have been reading with interest the recent deluge of emails regarding
ILLs on Medlib-l.  I particularly remember a new librarian's comments
that he hoped Medlib would give insights on serious library topics.

 

In that spirit, here comes one of the most serious things I've
experienced in my eight years of doing this job.  I was asked for
information on LSA.  We only knew that someone had taken it in some form
and was now experiencing an adverse reaction.  We also had the initials
"HBWR."  That was all.

 

Not knowing anything more than that, I first turned to Google using
"LSA" as the search term.

 

As it turns out, LSA is a readily available herbal product (Hawaiian
Baby Woodrose).  In this case, when I tried to access a few sites to
learn more, perhaps a chemical name, I was blocked by the organization's
filtering software.  Fortunately, I got lucky for in the site
descriptors Google provides I located a Latin plant name & could take it
from there using the Natural Medicines Database. 

 

I understand my employer's need to control access to the Internet, and
certainly a usual search of this nature by an employee is likely to be
suspect, but in this case time was of the essence in determining
treatment.

 

Has anyone else experienced this issue?  I would appreciate hearing more
from all sides of this concern.

 

Take care, all--

 

Donna L. Beales, MLIS

Lowell General Hospital

Health Science Library

295 Varnum Ave.

Lowell, MA 01854

978-937-6247

Fax: 978-937-6855

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www.lowellgeneral.org/library <http://www.lowellgeneral.org/library>