PREPARING THE UHMS LIBRARY HOLDINGS FOR ONLINE ACCESS

Undersea/Hyperbaric Medical Society, Kensington MD

Investigators

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (adapted from the Abstract): The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) is a professional, non-profit scientific and medical association with a mandate to expand and disseminate the body of knowledge of diving and hyperbaric medicine. It was founded in 1967 and incorporated in 1972. It is a professional membership association of approximately 2800 physicians and researchers. Its purpose is to provide scientific and medical information to protect the health of sport, military and commercial divers and to improve hyperbaric oxygen research and treatment protocols. The Society also provides medical guidelines for physicians and scientists in the fields of diving and hyperbaric medicine. One of its most valuable resources is the Charles W. Shilling Library, which is the repository of the most complete collection of literature relating to these subjects. The long-term objective of this project is to provide wider access to the unique holdings of this special library. The specific aims are: 1) To organize and catalogue the collection for the on-line use of researchers and doctors working, worldwide, in the fields of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. 2) To update and systematize the bibliographic database in preparation for on-line accessibility. 3) And, ultimately, to make the entire library collection, including the database, available through the UHMS Internet Website. Reference work is done by the librarian who responds to phone, e-mail and fax requests. Researchers rarely come into the library in person. The librarian will catalogue the collection, including detailed subject indexing and assignment of classification numbers. She will work with a part/time data entry clerk who will assist her in preparing the database for on-line access. In order that the members of the UHMS are familiar with and understand what will be available on line, a training class conducted by the librarian will be offered at the next UHMS Annual Scientific Meeting. Additionally, full instructions for the use of the database will be available on line.