Info-Rx: Newsletter of the University of Manitoba Health Sciences Libraries 
September 2010
Your prescription for quality health information

To view the complete online version of this newsletter, go to: http://myuminfo.umanitoba.ca/index.asp?sec=857

A warm welcome to everyone as the new academic year begins. Those of you who have been away for a while will see us in a very different light. The Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library has been under renovation since February, and there is still much to do. As we approach the end of September we are engaged in an extensive overhaul and move of our collections upstairs on the 300 level. Journals are being unpacked and restored to waiting shelves. New seminar rooms are being painted and readied for public use. Staff offices have been created with impressive glass walls, some of which are still to be installed. Our public workstation area has new furniture and a more open design. 

Renovations are due to be completed in October. For stories and more pictures, follow our special renovations blog. 

In this issue of Info-Rx we bring you more information about the changes to the library's physical space and news of staff changes. We also want to alert you to an upcoming Open Access Forum, which takes place on October 18. Prof. Michael Geist, a nationally known advocate for copyright reform and free public access to taxpayer-funded research, will speak and also take part in a panel. This is an event that should interest students and academics in all disciplines.

If you are planning to publish your research we offer a helpful guide to preparing for publication. What journals should you consider? How do you access impact factors? What resources are there to assist the researcher? Read our comprehensive review.

As you know, PubMed has a new interface. Did you know that some of its most useful features have also been extensively revised? 

If you have been following the MS treatment controversy, you should see our round-up of the latest research on the issue. People are looking for health information on the web in greater numbers every year; but are they being misled by commercial interests or biased viewpoints? See our article on the top consumer health websites in Canada and the U.S. for links to the most reliable information.

Again, thank you for your patience during the Neil John Maclean Library's transformation. The next few weeks will continue to be challenging as we reach the final stages of construction. When it is finished, the library promises to be a much more interesting and useful space — a true learning commons.

NEWS

The library has a new look: renovations coming to an end soon The makeover of the Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library has taken more than 6 months.

Back to school? We can help! As you head back to classes, whether as a student or a faculty member, the Health Sciences Libraries are here to help you make the most of the school year.

Coming October 18: Forum on Copyright and the Open Access Movement in Canada Michael Geist from the University of Ottawa will speak on facilitating public access to research. October 18, 9am-12pm, St. John's College.

New Librarians at the Health Sciences Libraries Welcome to Kerry Macdonald, Janet Rothney and Catherine Shields.

Preparing for publication: help for researchers considering where to submit a manuscript Written a paper recently, but you're not sure where to submit your manuscript? How can you find out which would be the best journal in which to publish?

 

FEATURES

Beyond Google:  PubMed Clinical Queries: New interface, easier to use
PubMed offers an easy way to limit your search to the best evidence.

What Your Patient Reads:  New MS treatment or not? Part II
"What Your Patient Reads" are one-page summaries of health-related media reports that are supplemented with references to evidence-based medical literature.

Consumer Health:  Best Consumer Health Websites
60% of Canadians have poor health literacy. These resources can help.

 Info-Rx is the electronic newsletter of the University of Manitoba Health Sciences Libraries. Its purpose is to inform our primary audience of services or resources that will help them to access quality health information. Info-Rx is published six times a year. Comments, questions, or letters to the editor should be addressed to: 
info-rx@umanitoba.ca