Dee CR, The development of the medical literature analysis and retrieval system(MEDLARS), JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 95 (4): 416-425 OCT 2007

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Addresses: cdee at cas.usf.edu 

Title: The development of the medical literature analysis and retrieval 
system(MEDLARS) 

Author(s): Dee CR (Dee, Cheryl Rae) 

Source: JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 95 (4): 416-425 OCT 
2007 

Document Type: Article 
Language: English 

Cited References: 66      Times Cited: 0    
    
Abstract: Objective: The research provides a chronology of the US National 
Library of Medicine's (NLM's) contribution to access to the world's 
biomedical literature through its computerization of biomedical indexes, 
particularly the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System 
(MEDLARS). DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.95.4.416 mechanized bibliographic 
retrieval systems of the 1940s and to the beginnings of online, 
interactive computerized bibliographic search systems of the early 1970s 
chronicled here, NLM's contributions to automation and bibliographic 
retrieval have been extensive. 
Method: Using material gathered from NLM's archives and from personal 
interviews with people associated with developing MEDLARS, and its 
associated systems, the author discusses key events in the history of 
MEDLARS.

Discussion: From the development of the early mechanized bibliographic 
retrieval systems of the 1940s and to the beginnings of online, 
interactive computerized bibliographic search systems of the early 1970s 
chronicled here, NLM's contributions to automation and bibliographic 
retrieval have been extensive.

Conclusion: As NLM's technological experience and expertise grew, 
innovative bibliographic storage and retrieval systems emerged. NLM's 
accomplishments regarding MEDLARS were cutting edge, placing the library 
at the forefront of incorporating mechanization and technologies into 
medical information systems.

KeyWords Plus: MEDLARS 
Addresses: Dee CR (reprint author), Univ S Florida, Sch Lib & Informat 
Sci, Lakeland, FL 33803 USA
Univ S Florida, Sch Lib & Informat Sci, Lakeland, FL 33803 USA

E-mail Addresses: cdee at cas.usf.edu 

Publisher: MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOC, 65 EAST WACKER PLACE, STE 1900, CHICAGO, 
IL 60601-7298 USA 

Subject Category: Information Science & Library Science 

ISSN: 1536-5050 

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