[PSR-News] NLM decides not to change MeSH subheadings

[Kwan, Julie]

The following notice was published in the NLM Technical Bulletin on
January 30, 2007. On behalf of my colleagues here in your RML office, I
join NLM in thanking everyone in the Pacific Southwest Region who took
the time to provide comments and opinions to NLM staff on this issue.

 

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MeSH(r) Subheading Consolidation Decision

 

Last year, the National Library of Medicine(r) (NLM(r)) proposed to
consolidate the 83 existing qualifiers (subheadings) in the Medical
Subject Headings and create a smaller set. The goal was to make the use
of qualifiers easier for the searching public. NLM distributed a
background paper within the National Network of Libraries of Medicine,
whose members also posted it on a number of widely seen listservs. At
the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting in 2006, Dr. Stuart
Nelson, Head of Medical Subject Headings, and those in attendance had a
lively dialogue on the proposed changes. 

 

Over the intervening months, NLM staff analyzed all comments,
suggestions, and feedback. We considered the potential impact on the
searching public, Network libraries, and the internal processes at NLM.
Ultimately, in part due to budget constraints and limited resources, NLM
has made the decision to retain the qualifiers in their present form. We
hope to concentrate our efforts on other ways to improve searching and
retrieval for all users. We greatly appreciate the many thoughtful
comments received, and thank all those who provided input.

 

Julie Kwan

Library Network Coordinator

NN/LM Pacific Southwest Region

310-825-5342

800-338-7657

jkkwan at library.ucla.edu

http://nnlm.gov/psr

 

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