I agree that the loss will cause us to lose the complex searching capabilities. I use Toxline frequently but sometimes using the form in IGM doesn't work for the more complex, multi-term searches. I get messages saying that it cannot process the search!! So I go back to Elhill. I know I could use Toxline on Dialog, but I prefer Elhill. If we are to transition to web-based searching entirely, something needs to be done to make those systems more flexible so we can refine our searches as we were taught years ago on Elhill. I am willing to learn new forms of access, if they will give us access to capabilities we once had. Auburn Steward, MLIS, AHIP Center for Toxicology & Environmental Health 4301 W. Markham--Slot 767 Hendrix Hall--Suite 100A Little Rock, AR 72205 501-614-2834 501-614-2835 (fax) [log in to unmask] http://www.cteh.uams.edu > -----Original Message----- > From: Burdick, Amrita J. [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Friday, June 18, 1999 9:06 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Demise of Medlars access? > > I am really concerned about the loss of access points which will happen > with the > switchover to the web-based version of searching. While PubMed has some > advanced options, many databases -- such as AIDSLINE are available only > through > Internet Grateful Med. Are we really going to lose the capability of > searching > many fields (such as chemical registry number, textwords with adjacency, > author > institutional affiliation, etc.) that have been helpful in complex > searches? I > contacted MEDLARS who told me to just enter textwords as MeSH headings > which is > an automatic mapping. The method they suggested for institutional > affiliation > simply didn't work. I haven't explored all the other fields and which ones > work > and which ones won't but it doesn't look good. > > I don't mind learning new forms of access (as long as they work > efficiently) but > I am reluctant to lose the complex searching capabilities of Elhill!!! > > Amrita Burdick, Clinical Medical Librarian > UMKC Health Sciences Library > 2411 Holmes St. > Kansas City, MO 64108-2792 > [log in to unmask] > (816) 235-1876