ubMed LinkOut has some exciting new features for libraries:

• LinkOut has lifted the daily limit for new SERHOLD^® participants,
• it's now easier to provide a library icon, and
• new documentation is available.

About LinkOut
LinkOut is a feature of Entrez that provides users with links to web-accessible relevant resources from PubMed and other Entrez databases. LinkOut for Libraries allows for the display of both SERHOLD print holdings and electronic full-text links directly from a PubMed search (see Figure 1). LinkOut is a free service provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

 

Display of SERHOLD Print Holdings
Library patrons can see their library's SERHOLD print holdings information in PubMed while they are searching from the library, home, or at the office. LinkOut is welcoming participation from SERHOLD libraries. There is no longer a daily limit for new participants.

After you sign up for LinkOut, simply add the SERHOLD information for your library in the LinkOut Library Submission Utility (see Figure 2). You will need the LIBID(s) for your library, and a brief description of where holdings are located. Information from SERHOLD will be copied to LinkOut by 12:00 PM ET the following business day.

 

Provide Library Icon
Provide Icon is a new feature of the Library Submission Utility. A library can now upload an icon to be stored at NCBI. Libraries can still choose to provide the URL to an icon file stored at their Web site.

New Documentation
A new tutorial for libraries, Setting Up LinkOut for Libraries, is a step-by-step guide on how to set up LinkOut at your library. Topics include getting an account, entering library information, entering electronic holdings, adding SERHOLD print holdings, and displaying the library icons in a PubMed search. View the tutorial at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/linkout/doc/linktutorial.html

We also updated the document LinkOut and Library Holdings. Check it out at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/linkout/doc/liblinkout.html

Sign Up
To sign up for LinkOut, send an e-mail to lib-reg@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Put 'LinkOut Registration Request' as the subject of your message. In the message, please include: Library Name, Contact Person, Phone Number, E-mail Address, and Street Address.

Please send any questions or comments to lib-linkout@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

By Kristina Babones
National Center for Biotechnology Information

Babones K. New Features in PubMed LinkOut for Libraries. NLM Tech Bull. 2003 Jan-Feb;(330):e8.