Library News

MEDLINE is the National Library of Medicine's database of more than 17 million citations (most with abstracts) to journal articles and other publications in preclinical sciences, medicine, nursing, and health care systems. When looking for articles on medical topics, MEDLINE is the best place to begin.

On the Library Web site, two "Quick Links" (box is on the left sidebar) will take you to MEDLINE, which is offered on two different search platforms. The "Quick Links" are labeled:

• MEDLINE (Ovid)


• PubMed

What factors should you consider when deciding whether to search MEDLINE via Ovid or via PubMed?

Use Ovid:

• If you want to know immediately if the article is available from the UT Southwestern Library.


• If you want to be guided through selections for a precise search based on Medical Subject Headings, subheadings, and limits.

Use PubMed:

• If you want to learn a MEDLINE interface that will always be available to you, even after you leave UT Southwestern.


• If you want quick results and search strategies automatically created for you.


• If you want to search for genetics and molecular biology information with links to genetic sequences.

UT Southwestern affiliates have an advantage when they search MEDLINE (via either Ovid or PubMed) using links provided on the Library Web site. When search results are viewed, you will see a "Find It @ Library UT Southwestern" icon next to each listing, plus Ovid has a statement of whether the Library owns the publication. When you click on this icon, you will be taken to full text for most of the Library's journals.

If you are not using Cisco's Virtual Private Network (VPN) from off-campus or remote locations, you can still use the Ovid generic login to search Ovid and get to full text using the "Find It" icons. You will be presented with an EZ Proxy login; this is your GroupWise login and password. UT Southwestern affiliates can also search OVID (and get links to full text) from off-campus without VPN if they have been registered by Library staff. See the Library Web site's Off-Campus Access page for details on VPN and EZ Proxy.

If you are not a UT Southwestern affiliate and are using an off-campus computer, you cannot reach Ovid but can still search PubMed for free. However, you will not see the "Find It @ Library UT Southwestern" icon. You will have to print your search results and then use a Library computer to get the full text of the publications you identify.

If you have questions about using MEDLINE, or are an affiliate who would like a research librarian to do a MEDLINE search for you, request assistance by calling 214-648-2003 or by going to the Ask a Librarian page on the Library Web site.