|
Reference Assistance | Consumer
Databases | Searching MEDLINE
| Reference Collection
|Internet Resources | Newsletters
REFERENCE ASSISTANCE
The Information
Services Department staff is available during Reference
Desk hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F) to assist walk-in patrons
who have consumer health information questions. Call in consumer
health questions, other than ready reference, are referred to
Healthnet,
the Library's consumer health program.
CONSUMER HEALTH
DATABASES
There are two medical
databases that are useful in locating information written for
consumers.
The MedlinePlus
database http://www.medlineplus.gov
published by the National Library of Medicine especially for
health consumers, includes links to selected, authoritative
consumer health websites that focus on diseases and disorders,
their prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and wellness. The
database also includes a medical dictionary, medical encyclopedia,
links to health news resources, drug information, and a number
of interactive tutorials and surgery videos. Under "Databases"
on the Library homepage, select "Medlineplus".
The Health and
Wellness Resource Center (HWRC) offers
medical and health information from professional medical journals,
consumer health reference books, and consumer newsletters
and pamphlets. It also includes a medical encyclopedia,
a medical dictionary, a section on alternative medicine, a
drug and herb finder, a directory of health organizations,
information on current medical news, and health assessment
tools. Much of the information is available full-text.
The HWRC
may be accessed in the Library from the computers located
in the Reference area on the main floor. Under "Databases"
on the Library homepage, select "Health and Wellness Resource
Center". Connecticut residents may also access the database
from home by connecting to
http://www.iconn.org. You must have a valid
Connecticut public library card to access the Health and Wellness
Resource Center from home.
SEARCHING MEDLINE
MEDLINE, the National
Library of Medicine's computer index of medical journal articles,
available at no charge on the Internet, may be accessed from
any of the workstations in the library. If you are unfamiliar
with searching MEDLINE, ask the reference librarian for assistance.
Much of the information in MEDLINE is technical, although several
consumer-oriented publications are indexed.
CONSUMER HEALTH
REFERENCE COLLECTION
Reference books that
may be helpful in answering many different types of consumer
health questions are shelved in the Reference section located
near the Service Desk. Some of these books, such as "The Merck
Manual Home Health Handbook" and "The American Medical
Association Consise Medical Encyclopedia," were written specifically
for health consumers. Many other books in the same subject area
may also be useful, but may use technical language.
INTERNET RESOURCES
Healthnet: Connecticut
Consumer Health Information Network
has evaluated many consumer health web sites that may be helpful
in answering specific types of questions. To get you started
in exploring the Internet for answers to your health questions,
take a look at Healthnet's recommended Internet resources.
NEWSLETTERS
The library subscribes
to several newsletters written specifically for consumers. These
newsletters have informative essays on specific diseases, medical
conditions, health care issues, and other topics of interest
to consumers. These newsletters may be found in the journal
stacks on the main floor of the library.
Titles include:
FDA Consumer; Harvard Health Letter; Harvard Women's Health
Watch; Health; HealthFacts; Mayo Clinic Health Letter; and
Nutrition Action Health Letter.
|
