The Medical Library Association Essential Guide to Becoming an Expert Searcher

Contents
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Expert Searching
 Setting the Stage
 Defining the Expert Searcher
 Strategies for Becoming an Expert Searcher
 Liability and Expert Searchers
 Challenges of Database Searching
 Components of the Expert Search Process
 References
Chapter 2. The Search Interview and Documentation Process 
 Description and Purpose of the Interview
 Example of a Search Interview
 Presearch Interview
 Interview Challenges
 Postsearch Documentation
 Exercises
 References
Chapter 3. Database Evaluation and Selection
 The Web or Databanks or Bibliographic Databases
 Selecting Databases
 Federated Searching
 Evaluating Databases and Databanks
 Exercises
 References
Chapter 4. Selected Key Resources in the Biosciences
 Descriptions
 Exercises
Chapter 5. Basics of Search Construction
 Search Request Analysis
 Linking Concepts
 Techniques for Building Searches
 Creating the Search Plan
 Guidelines and Protocols
 Exercises
 References
Chapter 6. Effective Use of Database Structure and Interface
 The Unit Record
 Database Interface Features
 Cited Reference Searching
 Exercises
 References
Chapter 7. Subject Searching
 Natural Language
 Thesaurus or Controlled Vocabulary
 Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
 Indexing Principles for MEDLINE
 Limitations of Thesauri
 Combining Natural Language and Controlled Vocabulary
 Hedges
 Exercises
 References
Chapter 8. Reviewing and Revising Searches 
 Precision versus Recall
 Revising Searches with Too Few or No References
 Revising Searches with Too Many References
 Ending Points
 Evaluating Searches
 References
Chapter 9. Improving and Maintaining Search Skills 
 Evaluating Search Skills
 Options and Opportunities
 Resources
	References
Chapter 10. For Further Study
Appendix 1. Role of Expert Searching in Health Sciences Libraries
Appendix 2. Suggested Answers to Practice Exercises
Glossary
Index
About the Author