E-DRUG: National Library of Medicine (cont'd)

["Joan D. Levin" <jdlevin@interaccess.com>]

E-drug: National Library of Medicine (cont'd)
---------------------------------------------

I have received a reply from Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg, Director of
National Library of Medicine, regarding my concerns about terminating
the ELHILL mainframe computer for searching MEDLINE, and moving
entirely to the Internet based system. 

In contrast to earlier indicators of an early demise of ELHILL, Dr.
Lindberg indicated in this reply that the agency "will not abandon
ELHILL until we are assured that the new systems can provide an
acceptable replacement." Dr. Lindberg invited the medical library
community to "give the new systems a fair trial and tell us what needs
to be improved." I have placed links to the new NLM internet-based
system at my website. I also have provided a link to e-mail Dr.
Lindberg. I urge you to try the system and direct your views to Dr.
Lindberg. 

In my view, although the new system has many positive features, it
also has serious problems that need to be addressed before any plans
are made to abandon the ELHILL mainframe.

My website is:  http://homepage.interaccess.com/~jdlevin. When you get
there, click on "Save ELHILL" to read my comments, use the links to
examine PubMed and NLM, write to Dr. Lindberg, and read a synopsis
of Dr. Lindberg's reply.

If you would like more information, or if you do not have internet
access, please feel free to get in touch with me at
jdlevin@interaccess.com.

Joan D. Levin, J.D., M.P.H.
1300 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60610
tel: 312-988-7181
tax: 312-988-7182
e-mail: jdlevin@interaccess.com
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~jdlevin

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